President Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a tense White House exchange on November 18, rejecting U.S. intelligence findings and instead publicly claiming the crown prince “knew nothing” about the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The president’s comments also included a remarkable rebuke of ABC News reporter Mary Bruce, who had raised the topic, describing her question as “horrible” and “embarrassing,” and drawing widespread attention from both media and rights advocates.
Tensions in the Oval Office
During the highly anticipated visit, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on his first U.S. trip since the Khashoggi killing, pledged a $1 trillion investment in the United States. When pressed by the reporter, Trump dismissed Khashoggi as “extremely controversial” and asserted, “whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happened,” distancing the U.S. administration from the findings of a 2021 intelligence report which concluded the crown prince had likely ordered the operation.
Contradictions and Fallout
This public defense came in stark contrast to U.S. intelligence and congressional consensus, which over the past several years have maintained that Prince Mohammed authorized the killing. Saudi officials have persistently denied the crown prince’s involvement, assigning blame for the operation to rogue agents.
Khashoggi’s wife, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, quickly denounced Trump’s and bin Salman’s postures, calling for an apology and meaningful reparations. Rights groups and media watchdogs have criticized Trump’s efforts to “paper over” the murder, especially amid lucrative U.S.–Saudi agreements on defense and technology signed during the visit.
Diplomatic and Media Implications
Observers note that Trump’s reaction underscores his administration’s priority to preserve U.S.–Saudi economic ties, particularly through major energy, defense, and investment deals. The tense press moment—which also saw Trump suggest ABC News should lose its license—highlighted the fraught relationship between the administration, the media, and global human rights concerns.
The episode, unfolding as Washington hosts high-level talks with Saudi Arabia, keeps debates over press freedom, U.S. values, and the ongoing Khashoggi tragedy alive on the international stage.