U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had no knowledge of the killing of U.S. resident and Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi. Trump welcomed the Saudi leader, also known as MBS, for talks aimed at boosting the sale of F-35 fighter jets and expanding business partnerships with Saudi Arabia.
The last time MBS visited Washington was shortly before Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi royal family and a Washington Post columnist, was murdered in Turkey in 2018. Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 that year. Turkish officials alleged that he was strangled, dismembered, and disposed of in a premeditated attack.
Despite U.S. intelligence implicating MBS in approving Khashoggi’s killing, the crown prince denied direct involvement but accepted responsibility as the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. Trump defended MBS during a press briefing, stating that the crown prince was unaware of the incident and chastising a journalist for bringing up the murder.
MBS expressed sorrow over the loss of life and assured that Saudi Arabia had investigated the incident to prevent it from recurring. The warm reception of the crown prince in Washington signaled a normalization of relations following the strained period post-Khashoggi’s assassination.
Protests against MBS’s visit were held by DAWN, an organization founded by Khashoggi, outside the Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C. A billboard truck displayed an image of MBS with the message “Mr. Bone Saw is in town and wants you to forget about his crimes.”
Bin Salman, renowned for his peace efforts, has been instrumental in improving relations with Iran, advocating for a Gaza ceasefire, and reintegrating Syria into the Arab community. Domestically, he has initiated significant economic reforms and social liberalization measures.
While invited to the G7 summit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, MBS did not attend due to the fallout from Khashoggi’s murder. Canada had condemned the killing and imposed sanctions on individuals linked to the incident.
During the recent meeting, Trump and MBS discussed enhancing security cooperation, civil nuclear collaboration, and multi-billion-dollar business endeavors. Trump announced a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, including the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets, marking a policy shift in the region with Israel previously being the sole Middle Eastern country possessing the aircraft.
MBS expressed interest in normalizing ties with Israel but emphasized the importance of a pathway to Palestinian statehood as a condition. Trump sees Saudi Arabia’s potential involvement in the Abraham Accords as pivotal for broader Middle East peace efforts.