US President Donald Trump has said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew nothing about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as he welcomed the kingdom's de facto ruler to the White House.
Trump's comments appeared to contradict a US intelligence assessment in 2021 which determined the crown prince had approved the operation that led to Khashoggi's death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The crown prince, who has denied any wrongdoing, said at the White House that Saudi Arabia did all the right things to investigate Khashoggi's death.
It was his first visit to the US since the assassination, which sent shockwaves through the US-Saudi relationship.
In the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump shot back at a reporter who asked about the killing. You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial, the US president said. 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 he [the Crown Prince] knew nothing about it, Trump added. You don't have to embarrass our guests.
The crown prince added that Saudi Arabia did all the right steps to investigate the murder, which he called painful and a huge mistake.
A US intelligence report made public in 2021 determined that the crown prince had approved of a plan to capture or kill Khashoggi in Istanbul. During his first administration, Trump White House officials declined to release the report.
While dozens of Saudi officials faced sanctions in the wake of the assassination, none directly targeted the crown prince.
At the time, Saudi Arabia rejected the report as negative, false and unacceptable.
On Tuesday, Khashoggi's widow called on the crown prince to apologize for her husband's murder, for which she said there was no justification. The Crown Prince said he was sorry so he should meet me, apologize and compensate me for the murder of my husband, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi posted on social media.
Tuesday's meeting between Trump and Mohammed bin Salman was expected to include deals on civilian nuclear power, artificial intelligence, and Saudi investment in the US, which the crown prince said was being increased from $600 billion pledged earlier this year to $1 trillion.
Echoing Trump's own words, bin Salman said that the US was the hottest country on the planet and praised the US president for creating long-term opportunity.
The two men also discussed the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to the Saudis, a topic that drew concern from some Israeli officials.
Trump said that while export licenses were still being announced, he expected a deal between the Saudis and US defense giant Lockheed Martin.
Tuesday's meeting culminated in a gala dinner promised a continuation of discussions at an investment summit on Wednesday, highlighting the ongoing strategic investment ties between the two nations despite past controversies.
