Trump Welcomes Saudi Crown Prince With Praise and Pageantry — Despite Khashoggi Murder Fallout
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Washington today for his first U.S. visit since the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi—yet instead of distance or diplomatic caution, he received an unmistakably warm embrace from President Donald Trump.
In the Oval Office, Trump heaped praise on the crown prince, calling him “extremely respected” and crediting him with doing a “phenomenal job,” even as questions about Khashoggi’s murder continue to shadow bin Salman’s global reputation. The two leaders appeared almost celebratory, announcing on the spot an increase in Saudi investment in the United States to $1 trillion.
But the atmosphere shifted when reporters raised the central issue of the visit: Khashoggi’s killing. Trump dismissed the well-documented 2021 U.S. intelligence conclusion that bin Salman had approved the operation, contradicting his own government’s findings.
“He knew nothing,” the president insisted. Bin Salman offered only that the murder had been a “huge mistake,” avoiding any acknowledgement of responsibility.
Trump also lashed out at a reporter who questioned him on the newly approved release of the Epstein files, calling the journalist a “terrible reporter” and reiterating his denial of involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.
After the meeting, the crown prince departed the White House—but will return tonight for a lavish black-tie gala that underscores the administration’s eagerness to showcase the partnership.
Lavish Gala, Murky Optics
Tonight’s East Room dinner is expected to draw high-profile CEOs from American companies that maintain lucrative ties with Saudi Arabia. The White House has declined to provide a full guest list.
A White House official also said Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was expected to appear at the White House at some point today, though he has not been seen—a detail that further underscores the event’s celebrity-driven spectacle.
The dinner will take place in the East Room, a location President Trump is using to promote his controversial new ballroom project. He has repeatedly referenced the planned structure in recent weeks, and today suggested the choice of venue demonstrates “the need” for the new addition.
A Display of Personal Affection
Perhaps the most striking part of the visit so far is the visible fondness Trump displayed toward bin Salman. Oval Office meetings with foreign leaders are often restrained, but this one was unusually effusive. Trump laughed, joked, and even grabbed the crown prince’s hand at one point—mocking President Biden’s prior fist-bump with the Saudi leader.
When questions turned to Khashoggi or even the 9/11 attacks, Trump reacted with anger, forcefully defending bin Salman and turning the moment into a confrontation with the press rather than a discussion of accountability.
Background: The Murder at the Consulate
Jamal Khashoggi—once a government insider, later a prominent critic of the crown prince’s policies—entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 to collect a document needed for his upcoming marriage. He never emerged.
CCTV captured his entry at 13:14 local time. Turkish intelligence recordings later documented portions of the operation that killed him. A senior Turkish adviser has said Khashoggi’s body was cut up and dissolved in acid.
The killing sparked global outrage. The U.S. intelligence community ultimately assessed that Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation, a conclusion Trump rejected again today.
