Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince Amid Khashoggi Questions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman against U.S. intelligence findings connecting him to the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The remarks came as MBS pledged to increase Saudi investments in the U.S. to nearly $1 trillion. The visit marked the crown prince’s first return to Washington since the Khashoggi murder and included discussions on defense, trade, and regional security.
Quick Look
- Trump hosts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House
- MBS pledges to raise Saudi U.S. investments to nearly $1 trillion
- Trump dismisses intelligence linking MBS to Jamal Khashoggi’s killing
- Trump calls Khashoggi “extremely controversial,” urges press not to “embarrass” MBS
- MBS calls the killing “painful,” says Saudi Arabia conducted a full investigation
- Military honors and Oval Office meetings highlight renewed U.S.-Saudi ties
- Trump showcases his “Presidential Walk of Fame” excluding Biden’s portrait
- Discussions include F-35 sales, investments in chips, tech, and U.S. infrastructure
- Human rights advocates criticize Trump’s defense of MBS
- Visit underscores Saudi Arabia’s strategic importance to Trump’s Middle East agenda
Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince as $1 Trillion Investment Pledge Overshadows Khashoggi Murder Fallout
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House with military honors and an Oval Office reception — and offered a forceful defense of the Saudi leader against U.S. intelligence assessments tying him to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Just minutes after bin Salman pledged nearly $1 trillion in new U.S. investments, Trump dismissed renewed questions about the prince’s involvement in the killing of the Washington Post columnist, who was a U.S. resident.
“He’s done a phenomenal job,” Trump said, standing beside the crown prince. “Things happen, but he knew nothing about it.”
Crown Prince Pledges Nearly $1 Trillion
During the joint appearance, Prince Mohammed committed to increasing Saudi Arabia’s investment in the U.S. economy from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion — a move he said reflects his confidence in the American economy and President Trump’s leadership.
“Today and tomorrow, we are going to announce that we are increasing that $600 billion to almost $1 trillion,” bin Salman said. “Real investment. Real opportunity.”
The funds will be directed toward various U.S. sectors, including semiconductors, clean energy, defense, and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Trump hailed the announcement as evidence of strong economic ties between the two countries, calling it “great for American workers” and “incredible for Wall Street.”
“We’re doing numbers no one’s ever seen before,” Trump said. “If he didn’t see potential in the U.S., he wouldn’t be doing it.”
Tense Exchange on Khashoggi Killing
Despite the celebratory tone, the meeting was briefly overshadowed by a question from a reporter about the CIA’s assessment that the crown prince ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Trump pushed back sharply, suggesting that Khashoggi was a controversial figure and that raising the issue was an attempt to embarrass the Saudi leader.
“You’re mentioning somebody extremely controversial,” Trump said. “A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman. Things happen. But [the prince] knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that.”
When the reporter tried to follow up, Trump scolded her:
“You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
The remarks sparked immediate backlash from press freedom advocates and renewed criticism of Trump’s stance on the Khashoggi case. Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the journalist’s widow, told CNN the event was “very painful” to watch.
Bin Salman Responds: “Painful and a Huge Mistake”
The crown prince, when asked separately about the killing, called it “a painful and huge mistake,” but defended his government’s response.
“It’s painful to hear anyone lost his life without purpose or legality. It’s been painful for us in Saudi Arabia,” said bin Salman. “We did all the right steps of investigation, and we’re doing our best to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Bin Salman, now 40, had not visited Washington since 2018. His return signals a resumption of full diplomatic ties after a period of cooling under President Joe Biden, who had previously vowed to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” over the murder.
White House Spectacle and Symbolism
Trump welcomed the crown prince with a military honor guard, a walk along the White House Colonnade, and a tour of his newly decorated “Presidential Walk of Fame.” Every U.S. president was featured — except Joe Biden, whose spot was replaced with an image of an autopen signing Trump’s name.
“That’s gold, that’s the best,” Trump quipped as he showed the display to bin Salman.
The two leaders also paused to admire portraits of Thomas Jefferson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, before entering the Oval Office for closed-door meetings on Middle East security, economic development, and the Abraham Accords.
The day is set to conclude with a formal East Room dinner hosted by First Lady Melania Trump in honor of the prince.
U.S.-Saudi Ties Enter New Phase
Despite the shadow of the Khashoggi case, Tuesday’s visit underscores a renewed strategic partnership between Washington and Riyadh. Trump has made clear that he views bin Salman as a key regional ally, particularly in efforts to expand Arab-Israeli normalization and contain Iran.
As part of the defense and tech agreements, the U.S. is expected to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that has drawn concern in Israel and among some in Congress.
Still, Trump expressed confidence that the economic and security benefits would outweigh any controversy.
“We have a tremendous relationship,” Trump said. “And now it’s only going to grow stronger.”
Fast Facts: What the $1 Trillion Deal Includes
- Sectors targeted: Technology, energy, defense, finance, and infrastructure
- F-35 sale: Advanced fighter jets part of broader defense package
- AI & Chips: Saudi investments to support U.S. AI infrastructure projects
- Wall Street gains: Expected influx of Saudi capital into financial markets
- Jobs impact: Trump claims deal will create “hundreds of thousands” of U.S. jobs
Criticism Mounts
“This is a slap in the face to journalists worldwide,” said a statement from the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Justice has not been served, and rewarding the crown prince with a red carpet only further erodes press freedom.”
Still, with investment figures soaring, the administration appears determined to push forward — confident that economic growth and foreign capital will speak louder than past controversies.
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