Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince as Khashoggi Case Resurfaces, Seeks to Maintain Diplomatic Calm
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday struck a conciliatory tone toward Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an Oval Office interaction, steering attention away from questions surrounding the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
With the Crown Prince present, Trump attempted to diffuse tension, saying he did not want to “embarrass our guest,” and insisting that Mohammed bin Salman “knew nothing about it”.
Given the diplomatic sensitivities and Washington’s strategic ties with Riyadh, Trump appeared to be navigating the moment with caution, aiming to keep the atmosphere congenial.
Who Was Jamal Khashoggi?
Jamal Khashoggi was a prominent journalist with decades of experience in the Middle East, known for his deep understanding of regional politics and his willingness to critique those in power.
Educated in the United States, he befriended Osama bin Laden in the 1970s and 1980s during his reporting trips to Afghanistan but firmly rejected al-Qaeda’s radical ideology as it emerged.
Khashoggi served twice as editor of the Saudi daily Al Watan, losing his post each time for challenging conservative religious forces. In 2015, he launched Al-Arab TV, which was shuttered almost immediately.
Though he moved in elite circles, his persistent questioning of authority earned him a reputation as a journalist who made governments uncomfortable.
When Mohammed bin Salman rose to prominence, Khashoggi’s criticism sharpened.
Describing the young prince as “impulsive” and unpredictable, he chose self-exile in Washington in 2017 and began writing for The Washington Post, becoming one of the most outspoken Saudi critics abroad.
What Happened to Him?
On October 2, 2018, Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to collect documents required for his upcoming wedding to Turkish fiancée Hatice Cengiz. He never emerged. After hours of waiting, Cengiz alerted Turkish authorities.
For days, Saudi officials denied any involvement. But on October 20, Riyadh admitted that Khashoggi had died inside the consulate during what it described as a “fight.”
Further details released on November 15 by the Saudi Public Prosecutor’s office painted a darker picture: a team sent from Riyadh attempted to force Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia, injected him with a lethal sedative when he resisted, and subsequently dismembered his body.
Saudi prosecutors claimed that five individuals had confessed and reiterated that the Crown Prince did not know about the operation.
What Did US Intelligence Conclude?
The narrative shifted significantly in February 2021, when the Biden administration declassified its intelligence assessment. The report concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi.
The finding was based on several factors: his near-total control over Saudi security structures, the involvement of individuals directly tied to him, and his past support for suppressing dissidents abroad.
Analysts noted that given the Crown Prince’s “absolute control”, an operation of this scale was “highly unlikely” to have happened without his approval.
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