Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince, Dismisses Role in Khashoggi Murder

President Donald Trump has publicly defended Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During a visit to the White House, the President rejected a key U.S. intelligence report. That report found the Crown Prince responsible for ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The President praised the Crown Prince, often called M.B.S., and emphasized the strategic alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia. He dismissed the 2018 killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi government. This stance contradicts the official assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies. The visit signals a continued strong partnership, with the President prioritizing diplomatic and economic ties over the intelligence findings.