Donald Trump brushed aside the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
This happened during a high-profile White House meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday.
“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman… things happen,” Trump said.
He insisted the crown prince “knew nothing” about the killing, despite US intelligence assessments pointing otherwise.
He even suggested ABC News, which asked about Khashoggi, should lose its broadcasting licence.
The visit, however, was about more than optics.
Trump highlighted Saudi promises to invest in the US economy—initially $600bn, now potentially $1tn.
He confirmed plans to sell “top-of-the-line” F-35 stealth fighter jets to Riyadh.
Middle East Strategy
The move has sparked unease in Israel and US intelligence circles over technology security.
But Trump argued: “This is a great ally and Israel’s a great ally… they should both get top of the line.”
Both leaders also discussed reviving US-Saudi nuclear cooperation.
They also discussed nudging the kingdom toward the Abraham Accords, aiming for normalization with Israel and a two-state solution for Palestine.
“We’ll be discussing it further,” Trump said, noting the talks covered one-state, two-state options, and much more in a short time.
The visit also raised questions about Trump’s private business interests in the Gulf.
He insisted he had fully stepped back from his family empire, focusing entirely on the presidency.
Power, profit, and politics—a mix only Washington could stage so theatrically.
