NEW YORK – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stating he believes the royal “knew nothing” about the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In a televised interview on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his longstanding support for the Saudi leader, contradicting the 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment that found the crown prince responsible for approving the operation that led to Khashoggi’s killing.
“I have no reason to believe he knew about it,” Trump stated, emphasizing his view of the Crown Prince as a reliable ally who has helped stabilize global oil markets and fostered economic cooperation.
Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the Saudi government, was killed and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, an incident that sparked international outrage and strained Saudi-Western relations.
The former president’s comments come amid renewed diplomatic engagements between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, though the current Biden administration has maintained a more critical stance toward the kingdom’s human rights record.
Human rights organizations have consistently condemned Trump’s position on the matter, arguing it undermines accountability for the extrajudicial killing.
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