President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman against lingering questions about the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, even as the two men held high-profile talks at the White House that included discussion of arms sales and major investment deals.
When asked by reporters about U.S. intelligence findings that linked the crown prince to the operation that killed Khashoggi in Istanbul, Mr. Trump rejected those assessments and said the crown prince “knew nothing” about the murder, adding that “things happen.” His blunt defense contradicted a 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment that concluded the operation was approved at senior levels of the Saudi government.
The visit marks Mohammed bin Salman’s most visible return to Washington since the killing, and was staged as a show of restored ties between Riyadh and the United States. The White House reception included military flyovers, a ceremonial welcome and a private Oval Office meeting during which the leaders discussed security cooperation, advanced military sales and Saudi investment in U.S. technology and artificial intelligence projects. Trump also signaled willingness to advance major arms sales to the kingdom, including possible F-35 fighter-jet discussions as part of a broader thaw.
Reaction to Trump’s remarks was swift. Human rights advocates, critics of the Saudi government and relatives of Khashoggi condemned the president’s dismissal of U.S. intelligence. Khashoggi’s widow had urged U.S. officials before the visit to press for accountability and for outstanding questions about her husband’s death to be answered. Some lawmakers and press outlets said the administration’s posture risked undermining U.S. credibility on human rights.
Riyadh has repeatedly denied that the crown prince ordered the killing; during the visit bin Salman described the death as a “painful mistake” and emphasized that Saudi institutions had taken steps to prevent such wrongdoing in future. Saudi officials used the talks to press for deeper strategic and economic ties, promising large-scale investments in U.S. projects — figures touted during the visit ranged in the hundreds of billions to over a trillion dollars in pledges, which analysts say will take time to verify and translate into concrete commitments.
Analysts say the Washington meetings illustrate the geopolitical tradeoffs facing U.S. policy: the desire to secure strategic cooperation on regional security and technology while confronting persistent concerns about press freedom, extrajudicial killings and accountability. The dispute over Khashoggi’s murder continues to shadow bilateral ties and will likely shape congressional and public debate as any major arms or technology transfers are considered.
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