Trump Firmly Defends Saudi Crown Prince Over Khashoggi Murder Amid Washington Visit
President dismisses U.S. intelligence linking Mohammed bin Salman to the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reinforces bilateral ties
President Donald Trump on 18 November 2025 staunchly defended Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the prince’s first visit to the White House in over seven years, rejecting U.S. intelligence assessments which concluded that the crown prince approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Trump said the crown prince “knew nothing” about the murder and labelled media questions on the subject as unnecessary and embarrassing.
The visit featured a ceremonial welcome with black-horsed honour guard, a military fly-over and high-level bilateral meetings.
Trump described bin Salman as “one of the most respected people in the world” and praised his human-rights record without providing specific examples.
The Saudi leader called the killing “painful” and a “huge mistake” and affirmed that his country had taken steps to prevent a reoccurrence.
On the economic and strategic front, the two leaders announced that Saudi investment in the United States would rise from a previously pledged 600 billion dollars to nearly one trillion dollars, with a focus on artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
Additionally, Trump confirmed plans to approve the sale of the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet to Saudi Arabia, signalling a major shift in U.S.–Saudi defence cooperation and raising questions in Israel about its qualitative military edge.
The administration’s pivot reinforces a strategic realignment of U.S. policy in the Middle East, prioritising deeper commercial and military ties with Riyadh even as the human-rights legacy of the Khashoggi murder remains unaccounted for at the highest level.
Parliamentary and oversight figures in the United States signalled concern about implications for accountability and the principle of maintaining Israel’s military advantage in the region.
As the day ended with a White House state-style dinner in honour of the crown prince, Trump reiterated his support for Riyadh’s role in the region and said he valued the bilateral relationship above past grievances, emphasising that “we’re always on the same side of every issue.”
Trump said the crown prince “knew nothing” about the murder and labelled media questions on the subject as unnecessary and embarrassing.
The visit featured a ceremonial welcome with black-horsed honour guard, a military fly-over and high-level bilateral meetings.
Trump described bin Salman as “one of the most respected people in the world” and praised his human-rights record without providing specific examples.
The Saudi leader called the killing “painful” and a “huge mistake” and affirmed that his country had taken steps to prevent a reoccurrence.
On the economic and strategic front, the two leaders announced that Saudi investment in the United States would rise from a previously pledged 600 billion dollars to nearly one trillion dollars, with a focus on artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
Additionally, Trump confirmed plans to approve the sale of the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet to Saudi Arabia, signalling a major shift in U.S.–Saudi defence cooperation and raising questions in Israel about its qualitative military edge.
The administration’s pivot reinforces a strategic realignment of U.S. policy in the Middle East, prioritising deeper commercial and military ties with Riyadh even as the human-rights legacy of the Khashoggi murder remains unaccounted for at the highest level.
Parliamentary and oversight figures in the United States signalled concern about implications for accountability and the principle of maintaining Israel’s military advantage in the region.
As the day ended with a White House state-style dinner in honour of the crown prince, Trump reiterated his support for Riyadh’s role in the region and said he valued the bilateral relationship above past grievances, emphasising that “we’re always on the same side of every issue.”
