U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House. Trump praised the Prince’s “incredible” human rights record and dismissed the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, calling him “extremely controversial” and saying “things happened.”
During the visit, Trump also scolded a reporter for asking the Prince about Khashoggi’s killing, accusing her of “embarrassing” the royal. The Crown Prince responded by calling Khashoggi’s murder a “huge mistake” and said it had been fully investigated.
Who Was Jamal Khashoggi?
Jamal Khashoggi was a prominent Saudi journalist known for his reporting on major global events, including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden. For decades, he had close ties to the Saudi royal family and even served as an adviser to the government.
However, Khashoggi fell out of favor with the Saudi leadership and went into self-imposed exile in the United States in 2017. From there, he wrote a monthly column for the Washington Post, openly criticizing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the policies of the Saudi government. In his first column, Khashoggi said he feared arrest during a crackdown on dissent in Saudi Arabia.
Khashoggi’s Last Visit to the Saudi Consulate
In 2018, Khashoggi went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain a document confirming his divorce, required for his marriage to Turkish fiancée Hatice Cengiz. His first visit on September 28 was postponed, so he returned on October 2.
CCTV footage shows Khashoggi entering the consulate at 13:14 local time. Despite telling friends and Ms. Cengiz that he did not expect trouble, he left her with two mobile phones and instructions to contact an adviser to Turkish President Erdogan if he did not return. She waited for more than 10 hours, and when he did not come out, she returned the next day, but Khashoggi was never seen alive again.
International Outrage Over His Murder
Khashoggi’s killing inside the Saudi consulate sparked global outrage. Investigations suggested Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation, although the Prince later called it a “huge mistake” and said it had been investigated. Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, said the murder had “destroyed my life” and urged leaders to consider human rights alongside deals or weapons sales.
Trump Defends Mohammed bin Salman
On November 18, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. Trump praised the Prince’s human rights record, dismissed Khashoggi’s murder as “things happened,” and called the journalist “extremely controversial.” He also criticized a reporter for questioning the Prince about the killing.
During the visit, Prince Mohammed announced that Saudi Arabia would increase its investment in the U.S. from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. Trump also reiterated plans to sell F-35 jets and agreed to a framework for civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, despite past concerns about technology security.
$1 Trillion Investment and Military Deals
Prince Mohammed announced he would increase Saudi investment in the U.S. from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion. Trump confirmed the figure, calling it “definitely” accurate.
The U.S. president also reiterated plans to sell Saudi Arabia F-35 fighter jets, despite security concerns, and to sign a framework for civilian nuclear cooperation. The meeting highlighted the close ties between Trump and the Saudi royal family, strengthened by past investment pledges.
