President Donald Trump has publicly rejected claims that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite a U.S. intelligence report suggesting otherwise. During a meeting in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump expressed strong support for the Saudi leadership, including M.B.S., amid ongoing scrutiny over the incident.
The White House has not disclosed the specifics of the intelligence report, but Trump claimed that the findings were based on ‘fake news’ and that there was ‘no basis’ for the allegations against M.B.S. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed broader geopolitical issues, including regional stability and energy markets, with Trump emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong ties with the Gulf region.
Trump’s comments come as the U.S. continues to navigate the complex relationship with Saudi Arabia, balancing its strategic interests in the Middle East against growing international pressure to address human rights concerns. The incident has sparked debate over the role of U.S. foreign policy and the handling of sensitive intelligence matters.