Trump says bin Salman unaware of Khashoggi killing as leaders meet

Donald Trump defended Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman during talks at the White House, offering a different view from U.S. intelligence assessments on the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi as the Saudi leader made his first Washington visit in more than seven years.

U.S. President Donald Trump used the crown prince’s high-profile visit to reiterate his position that Mohammed bin Salman did not have prior knowledge of the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The comments came as bin Salman sought to re-engage with the United States and reaffirm Saudi Arabia’s political and economic ties.

Khashoggi, who lived in the U.S. and was known for his critical commentary on Saudi policies, was killed by Saudi agents in 2018. U.S. intelligence agencies assessed that the crown prince approved the operation to capture or kill him. Bin Salman has denied ordering the killing, while acknowledging responsibility in his role as the kingdom’s de facto leader.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said: "A lot of people did not like that gentleman that you are talking about. Things happened, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that."

Bin Salman described the episode as "painful" and said Saudi authorities carried out investigations and reforms to prevent similar incidents. "It’s a huge mistake," he noted, adding that steps had been taken to strengthen oversight.

During the visit, Trump also referred to progress on human rights in the kingdom, though he did not provide details. Human rights organisations continue to criticise Riyadh for detentions of activists and limits on dissent, issues that remain part of ongoing international discussions.

The White House event featured full ceremonial protocol, including a military honour guard, cannon salute and a flyover by U.S. aircraft. It marked a notable shift from the period immediately following Khashoggi’s killing, when U.S.-Saudi ties had come under significant strain.

Economic cooperation was a key part of the discussions, with bin Salman stating that Saudi Arabia intends to increase its planned U.S. investment from $600 billion to $1 trillion. He did not specify a timeframe or detailed breakdown of the sectors involved.

Security cooperation also featured prominently. Trump said the two sides had reached a "defence agreement" without elaborating and confirmed that Saudi Arabia intends to purchase U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets. Civil nuclear cooperation and business partnerships were also on the agenda.

On regional diplomacy, Trump said he received a "positive response" from the crown prince regarding the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Bin Salman reiterated that any formal normalisation with Israel would require a path toward Palestinian statehood, a position Riyadh has maintained for several years.

Bin Salman’s schedule included lunch with Trump in the Cabinet Room and a formal dinner, reflecting the administration’s interest in reasserting the importance of ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The meeting underscored Washington and Riyadh’s focus on strengthening economic, security and diplomatic cooperation as both sides navigate ongoing regional and global challenges.

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