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New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicly shielded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from a question on the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, telling a reporter not to "embarrass our guest" during the prince's high-profile visit to the White House.
When an ABC News reporter attempted to ask the crown prince about Khashoggi, Trump interjected, calling the network "fake news" and insisting that the prince "knew nothing about that", adding that the matter should not be raised at the ceremonial welcome.
"Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen," Trump said.
The crown prince, making his first appearance at the White House since Khashoggi's killing, described the incident as a "mistake" and said the journalist "lost his life for no real reason". He said Saudi Arabia was working to ensure "such an event never happens again".
Trump praised the kingdom's de facto ruler, saying, "I'm very proud of the job he’s done. What he’s accomplished is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else."
The prince's arrival was marked by a full ceremonial reception, including a military flyover of F-35 jets, cannon salutes and a Marine Band performance.
Trump confirmed the US would proceed with the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia despite concerns within Washington and from Israel about safeguarding sensitive American technology. He also highlighted $600 billion in Saudi investment commitments in the US, suggesting the figure "could go up higher".
During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign a civilian nuclear cooperation framework and announce new Saudi investments in American artificial intelligence infrastructure. Closed-door discussions are expected to focus on regional security guarantees, Iran, the fragile post-war situation in Gaza and efforts to normalise Saudi-Israeli relations—an outcome Trump has repeatedly championed.
Riyadh maintains that any breakthrough on normalisation requires concrete progress toward Palestinian statehood.
Trump later brushed aside questions about Khashoggi, saying, "Things happen," even as US intelligence agencies have previously assessed that the crown prince likely approved the 2018 operation against the Washington Post journalist.
Prince Mohammed is also seeking to rehabilitate his global image during the visit after years of avoiding the West following the Khashoggi incident. Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a major player in emerging sectors such as mining, technology and tourism as part of the crown prince's Vision 2030 diversification strategy.
Human rights organisations have urged the Trump administration to press Riyadh on repression of dissent and a surge in executions. "Saudi Arabia's crown prince is trying to rebrand himself as a global statesman, but the reality at home is mass repression," Human Rights Watch said.
