President Donald Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting at the White House on Tuesday when asked about the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The exchange happened in the Oval Office as Trump welcomed the Saudi leader for his first visit to the United States since the killing.
Khashoggi, a political columnist and critic of the Saudi regime, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. A 15-member team of Saudi operatives ambushed and strangled him. His body was dismembered and has never been recovered. The CIA concluded in 2021 that the crown prince approved the operation to capture or kill the journalist.
When reporter Mary Bruce asked about the murder, Trump responded angrily. According to Axios, he said “a lot of people didn’t like that gentleman.” Trump then stated that “things happen” and insisted the crown prince “knew nothing about it.” The president also called Khashoggi a “terrible person” and told Bruce, “You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question.”
The Saudi crown prince addressed the topic during the meeting
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, said the killing was “painful” for Saudi Arabia. He claimed his country took “all the right steps of investigation” and improved its systems to prevent similar incidents. The prince called it “a huge mistake” but has consistently denied ordering the murder.
The meeting focused heavily on business deals between the two countries. Trump announced that Saudi Arabia would invest up to $1 trillion in the United States.
The president also confirmed plans to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia and designated the kingdom as a major non-NATO ally. A lavish dinner was held at the White House that evening with more than 140 guests, including Elon Musk and several CEOs.
@potus There is no justification to murder my husband. While Jamal was a good transparent and brave man many people may not have agreed with his opinions and desire for freedom of the press. The Crown Prince said he was sorry so he should meet me, apologize and compensate me for…
— Mrs Hanan Elatr Khashoggiحنان العتر خاشقجى (@hananelatr) November 18, 2025
Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, responded to Trump’s comments on social media. “@potus There is no justification to murder my husband,” she wrote on X.
“While Jamal was a good transparent and brave man many people may not have agreed with his opinions and desire for freedom of the press. The Crown Prince said he was sorry so he should meet me, apologize and compensate me for the murder of my husband.”
President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday despite a record of human rights abuses, including his alleged involvement in journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder.
— ABC News (@ABC) November 18, 2025
ABC News' Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked both men… pic.twitter.com/sQ4grDTwyK
The Biden administration had released the CIA report in 2021 that found the crown prince approved the assassination. The report noted his control over Saudi decision-making and the involvement of his protective detail in the operation. Critics have long pointed to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record when questioning close US ties with the kingdom.
However, under Trump’s administration, US-Saudi relations have warmed significantly. The recent visit included a red carpet ceremony with a military honor guard and a flyover of fighter jets. Human rights groups and families of 9/11 victims criticized the meeting and Trump’s defense of the Saudi crown prince.
