Donald Trump defends Saudi chief over journalist homicide: ‘Things occur’
In shocking remarks, Trump said “a lot of people didn’t like” Jamal Khasoggi, the US-based journalist who was brutally murdered – and defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who was accused of being behind the killing
Donald Trump defended the Saudi leader accused of being behind the brutal murder of a US-based journalist – and berated a reporter for “embarrassing” his guest by asking about it.
In shocking remarks, Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who US intelligence concluded in 2018 ordered the vicious killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post and critic of his regime. He said Khashoggi was “controversial” and “a lot of people didn’t like” him – before claiming Salman knew nothing about his murder. Trump dismissed the murder, saying “things happen.”
Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 to obtain documents for his upcoming wedding. It’s believed he was killed inside, before being dismembered with a bone saw. Turkish officials found evidence of the murder and that evidence had been tampered with.
The UN has since found the Saudi state responsible for the “premeditated extrajudicial execution” of Khashoggi. Trump has long expressed admiration for both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its ruler.
But at an Oval Office event, part of a lavish and opulent welcome to the White House to the Crown Prince, he was hit with a question about the murder from ABC News. Trump immediately lashed out at the reporter, branding her “fake news”.
He said: “You’re mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about. Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. And you can leave it at that. You don’t have to embarrass our guest.”
Salman was also asked for his response to 9/11 families who were upset that he had been given such a warm welcome at the White House. He said he feels “painful” about the families of 9/11 – but claimed Bin Laden used Saudi people in the attack in order to destroy the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia.
He said Khashoggi’s murder was “a huge mistake and we’re doing our best that this doesn’t happen again.”
“On the journalist,” he said, “It’s painful to hear anyone losing his life for no real purpose or it’s been painful for us in Saudi Arabia. We did all the right steps of investigation.”
