Saudi dissidents 'betrayed' by Biden trip as he defends his planned visit

As President Joe Biden defended his plans to visit Saudi Arabia, a country he once vowed to make an international “pariah,” Saudis who have fought to reform the absolute monarchy called the trip a betrayal that could have devastating consequences.

“We feel betrayed,” Abdullah Alaoudh, a U.S.-based leader of the National Assembly Party, an opposition group, told NBC News in a phone interview Monday. “We were promised to be protected from MBS,” he said, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

With Biden expected to meet the crown prince, Alaoudh said he feared the president’s visit could embolden Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader to “be more brutal and rogue.” Bin Salman has led a crackdown on reformers and women’s rights activists and the CIA has said likely ordered the brutal killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Bin Salman has said he takes full responsibility for Khashoggi’s murder, but denies any involvement in the slaying of the journalist — an outspoken critic of the crown prince.