Trump Says Crown Prince Knew Nothing About Khashoggi Death

Published: 19 November 2025 Wednesday . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

US President Donald Trump has publicly defended Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the kingdom’s de facto ruler “knew nothing” about the operation that led to the Washington Post columnist’s death. The comments came as Trump welcomed the crown prince to the White House, marking his first visit to the United States since the assassination that sent shockwaves through US-Saudi relations.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump appeared to downplay the controversial nature of the 2018 murder. Addressing reporters, 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 [the crown prince] knew nothing about it. You don’t have to embarrass our guests.”

Trump’s remarks directly contradicted a US intelligence assessment published in 2021 under the Biden administration, which concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the operation that resulted in Khashoggi’s death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Despite this assessment, Trump has consistently portrayed the crown prince as having no direct involvement, reflecting his longstanding approach of maintaining close ties with Saudi leadership.

The crown prince himself addressed the murder during his visit, describing it as “painful” and acknowledging it as a “huge mistake.” He maintained that Saudi Arabia had taken appropriate steps to investigate Khashoggi’s death, insisting that the kingdom had acted correctly in its internal inquiry. His statements, however, stopped short of acknowledging personal culpability, creating a stark contrast with the US intelligence report.

For Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan, Trump’s defense of the crown prince was deeply troubling. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, she said that the president’s comments did not align with the crown prince’s own previous acknowledgment of responsibility. “The crown prince himself, in a 2019 60 Minutes interview, did take accountability and hold responsibility for this horrible crime,” she said. In a subsequent post on X, she also called for a meeting with bin Salman, along with a formal apology and compensation for her husband’s murder. Hanan Khashoggi, who was granted political asylum in the US, resides in the Washington DC area.

The White House visit, which includes a gala dinner and an investment summit, is the first major engagement between Trump and the crown prince since 2018. Beyond addressing the lingering tensions over Khashoggi’s killing, the discussions are expected to focus on a wide range of strategic and economic issues. Among the priorities are civilian nuclear power cooperation, artificial intelligence investments, and increased Saudi financial commitment to the US economy. According to bin Salman, the crown prince’s investment pledge to the United States has been increased to $1 trillion (£761bn), up from the $600 billion previously announced earlier this year.

Defense and security matters were also prominent on the agenda. Trump and bin Salman discussed a potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia. While export licenses are still being processed, Trump indicated that a deal could soon be finalized between Saudi Arabia and Lockheed Martin, the US defense giant that manufactures the jets. The prospect of selling the F-35 to the Saudis has raised concerns among Israeli officials, who worry that it could affect Israel’s so-called “qualitative military edge” in the region. Trump, however, assured that the model supplied to Saudi Arabia would be broadly comparable to the one operated by Israel. “This [Saudi Arabia] is a great ally, and Israel is a great ally. I know they’d like you to get planes of reduced calibre. But as far as I’m concerned, I think they are both at a level where they should get top of the line,” he said.

The White House engagement also reflected the Trump administration’s broader approach to strengthening US-Saudi relations. Trump praised the kingdom’s strategic significance, highlighting its role in regional stability and global energy markets. The president repeatedly emphasised the economic and political benefits of closer ties, portraying the visit as a demonstration of the United States’ commitment to its long-term partnership with the kingdom.

The visit took place against the backdrop of ongoing debate in the US over accountability and human rights in Saudi Arabia. Critics of Trump’s stance argue that his unwavering support for the crown prince risks undermining the credibility of American foreign policy regarding press freedom and human rights advocacy. The Khashoggi case, which drew international condemnation, continues to be a potent symbol of these concerns. By publicly defending bin Salman, Trump has reignited discussions about the balance between strategic interests and ethical responsibilities in US-Saudi relations.

The crown prince’s White House agenda also included discussions on regional security, counterterrorism, and bilateral trade agreements. Both leaders stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the Middle East, with Trump framing Saudi Arabia as a key partner in the fight against extremism. Analysts suggest that the visit reinforces the long-term trajectory of US-Saudi collaboration, particularly in areas of defense, energy, and technology.

A notable highlight of the evening was the presence of Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has become a prominent figure in Saudi Arabia’s professional football league. Ronaldo’s attendance at the gala dinner underscored the crown prince’s efforts to use sports and entertainment as part of the country’s broader diversification strategy, aimed at reducing reliance on oil revenues. Alongside Ronaldo, high-profile business leaders including Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook were also present, reflecting the economic dimension of the visit and the crown prince’s ambitions to increase foreign investment in the kingdom.

Trump’s remarks and the visit as a whole mark a sharp departure from the approach taken by the Biden administration, which publicly condemned Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi’s murder and initially pledged to make the kingdom a “pariah” over its human rights record. Despite this, the US-Saudi partnership has historically remained resilient, given the strategic importance of the kingdom in regional security, energy markets, and counterterrorism initiatives.

The debate over accountability in the Khashoggi case remains a flashpoint in US politics. While Trump emphasized pragmatism and strategic alignment, human rights advocates continue to call for greater transparency and justice for the slain journalist. Hanan Khashoggi’s ongoing appeals for a formal apology and compensation highlight the enduring personal and political consequences of the assassination.

In the Oval Office, the tone of the visit conveyed both reconciliation and realpolitik. Trump’s assertion that “things happen” regarding Khashoggi’s death, paired with his assertion that the crown prince had no knowledge of the operation, reflects his prioritization of strategic partnership and economic engagement over confronting past transgressions. The crown prince’s acknowledgment of the incident as a “huge mistake” offered a partial nod to accountability but avoided direct personal responsibility, further illustrating the complex dynamics of the visit.

As the gala dinner and investment summit concluded, observers noted the clear signal Trump sought to send regarding US-Saudi relations. The meeting underscored the centrality of Saudi Arabia in US foreign policy calculations, particularly in terms of economic diversification, regional security, and defense collaboration. The inclusion of prominent figures from sports and business also reflected the multi-faceted nature of the crown prince’s agenda, emphasizing soft power alongside strategic diplomacy.

While Trump’s defense of Mohammed bin Salman has sparked controversy, particularly in light of the 2021 US intelligence findings, it remains consistent with his longstanding approach of prioritizing strategic alliances and economic engagement over human rights considerations. The visit also demonstrates the crown prince’s ongoing efforts to rebrand Saudi Arabia on the global stage, leveraging economic, technological, and cultural initiatives to strengthen international partnerships and investment opportunities.

As both leaders concluded the White House engagement, the overarching message was one of partnership, investment, and strategic alignment. The enduring debate over Khashoggi’s assassination, however, ensures that the visit will remain a focal point for discussion regarding accountability, justice, and the role of ethics in international diplomacy. The visit, combining political, economic, and cultural dimensions, encapsulates the complexities and contradictions inherent in modern US-Saudi relations.