President Trump on Tuesday called murdered Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi a “controversial” person during a sit-down with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House.
Mr. Trump addressed the 2018 killing after a reporter asked if it was appropriate for the crown prince to visit the White House, given concerns about the Arab state’s alleged connections to the Khashoggi murder and the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” Mr. Trump said about Khashoggi. “Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but [the crown prince] knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that. You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”
The crown prince is making his first White House visit since the 2018 death and dismemberment of Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist, at a Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Formal investigations alleged the killing was premeditated with the crown prince’s involvement. The Saudi leader denied personal involvement and regained clout with the West, given his country’s status as a major player in Middle East security and oil production.
The crown prince said while sitting with the president in the Oval Office that the Khashoggi incident was “painful” and a “huge mistake” and “we’re doing our best that this doesn’t happen again.”
Mr. Trump called the crown prince an “extremely respected man” and a friend who’s done a good job “in terms of human rights and everything else.”
“I want to tell you what an honor it is to be your friend,” the president said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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