Trump Defends Saudi Prince, Says 'A Lot of People Didn't Like' Jamal Khashoggi

President Donald Trump defended Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), as ABC News (Lean Left bias) reporter Mary Bruce questioned the interests of the two leaders.

The Details: Bruce asked Trump if it was “appropriate” or a “conflict of interest” for his family to be in business with Saudi Arabia during his presidency. Trump said in response that his family has “done very little” with the country. Bruce asked MBS, “Why should Americans trust you?” pointing to the Saudi government’s involvement in 9/11 and MBS’ alleged order in Oct. 2018 to murder the Washington Post (Lean Left) journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi embassy in Turkey. Trump defended both himself and MBS by calling ABC “fake news” and “one of the worst in the business.” He argued that MBS has “done a phenomenal job” and criticized Bruce’s mention of Khashoggi: “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 [MBS] knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that.”

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For Context: Khashoggi was killed during Trump’s first term. In 2021, the CIA concluded that MBS did issue a capture or kill order on Khashoggi. Trump’s response at the time of the murder was ambiguous, as he claimed to be focused on his relationship with the Saudi government as a whole. 

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From The Left: Media outlets on the left framed Trump’s rhetoric more negatively than media on the right – some of which were critical towards Trump as well. Politico (Lean Left) said Trump “seemed to offer an explanation” for Khashoggi’s murder. The outlet also noted that Trump’s defense came minutes after MBS “pledged to increase his past commitment of $600 billion in investments in the US to $1 trillion,” and that it was MBS’ first visit to the US since the CIA’s conclusion during the Biden administration. (Former President Joe Biden did travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with MBS in 2022.) Politico also, however, quoted MBS’ defense that what happened to Khashoggi was “a huge mistake.” 

From The Center: The Hill (Center) took a less conservative approach in saying Trump “sought to deflect questions” and “lashed out” at Bruce. The outlet also gave voice to Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr, who responded to Trump’s comments by saying, “There is no justification to murder my husband… The Crown Prince said he was sorry so he should meet me, apologize and compensate me for the murder of my husband.” 

From The Right: Fox News (Right) was also negative towards Trump in some capacity by asserting he “contradict[ed] his first administration’s intel reporting about the crown prince's involvement in Khashoggi’s killing.” However, Fox noted MBS’ “huge mistake” comment and his claim that the Saudi government “did all the right steps” to avoid a similar event in the future. It also gave voice to MBS’ argument that 9/11 terrorist Osama bin Laden “used” attacks on the US to disrupt peace between the US and Saudi Arabia.

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