19 Nov 2025 - 08:45
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, insisting the royal “knew nothing” about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a stance that contradicts the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies, Reuters reported.
The issue resurfaced during a televised Oval Office meeting as the crown prince made his first White House visit in more than seven years, part of an effort to restore his global standing following the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and outspoken critic of the Saudi leadership.
Trump announced during the visit that he was designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally. Washington and Riyadh also revealed agreements on arms sales, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence and critical minerals, according to the report.
U.S. intelligence agencies previously assessed that the crown prince approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. MBS has denied ordering the killing but acknowledged overall responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto ruler.
“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” Trump told reporters as bin Salman sat beside him. “Things happened, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
The crown prince said it was “painful” to hear about Khashoggi’s killing, adding that Saudi authorities “did all the right steps of investigation” and had improved internal systems to prevent similar incidents.
Trump also praised bin Salman for doing an “incredible” job on human rights, though he did not elaborate, Reuters reported.
The visit marks Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s first trip to the White House in more than seven years, as the Saudi leader seeks to reset ties with Washington after the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi strained relations.
