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In his first visit to the White House since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received an effusive welcome Tuesday from President Donald Trump, who again rejected U.S. intelligence conclusions and insisted the prince “knew nothing” about the 2018 killing.
“You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial,” Trump said when pressed by a reporter 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.” Trump began his remarks by praising the prince “in terms of human rights and everything else.”
The warm reception marked a striking reversal from the global condemnation that followed Khashoggi’s murder inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul — an operation the CIA assessed was ordered by the crown prince. At the time, Trump publicly defended MBS, a stance he reaffirmed Tuesday.
Tense exchange with reporter
When an ABC News journalist asked the crown prince about the killing and about criticism from families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Trump interjected angrily.
“ABC, fake news, one of the worst,” he said.
MBS dismissed the criticism, calling it part of an effort to divide Washington and Riyadh. “I feel painful about, you know, families of 9/11 in America,” he said. “But you know, we have to focus on reality.”
He defended Saudi Arabia’s internal probe of Khashoggi’s murder, noting that five people were sentenced to death. “It’s been painful for us in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “We are doing our best that this doesn’t happen again.”
Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the journalist’s widow, criticized Trump’s comments on X, saying, “There is no justification to murder my husband.” She urged the crown prince to apologize directly and compensate her for his death.
Diplomatic rehabilitation
The crown prince’s return to Washington is widely seen as a milestone in his reemergence on the global diplomatic stage.
The visit also underscored Washington’s deepening strategic engagement with Riyadh, even as human rights groups highlight the kingdom’s record. A February report from the Committee to Protect Journalists found 124 journalists were killed worldwide in 2024, including many in Gaza.
Pomp, investment, and U.S.-Saudi deals
Trump’s welcome included a military flyover with stealth fighters, officers on horseback and a Rose Garden tour. Inside the Oval Office, the two men joked about boosting Saudi investment in the U.S. to $1 trillion — roughly the size of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund.
A White House official said the two leaders are expected to sign economic and defense agreements, including a multibillion-dollar Saudi commitment to U.S. artificial-intelligence infrastructure, expanded civil-nuclear cooperation and fulfillment of the Saudis’ $600 billion investment pledge through dozens of new projects.
Trump also reiterated his willingness to approve the sale of F-35 stealth jets to Saudi Arabia, a move analysts warn may be slow — if it materializes at all.
“The devil will be in the details,” said Andrew Leber, a Carnegie Endowment fellow. He noted a similar UAE deal collapsed over concerns about protecting Israel’s qualitative military edge and the risk of U.S. technology leaking to China.
Talks on Israel normalization
Trump said he raised the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered normalization framework launched in 2020. “I don’t want to use the word ‘commitment,’ but we had a good talk,” he said.
Experts remain skeptical. “There’s no near-term horizon for normalization,” Hanna said.
Saudi officials have repeatedly said any normalization requires Israeli steps toward a Palestinian state — demands Israeli leaders have rejected.
“The risks for Mohammed bin Salman are extremely high if he joins the Abraham Accords,” said Fawaz Gerges, a professor at the London School of Economics. “His strategy is to minimize risks to his rule.”
Still, MBS has won Trump’s favor as one of the regional leaders who helped coordinate the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Trump’s business ties and ethical concerns
Trump’s longstanding business interactions with Saudi Arabia continue to raise questions, particularly as his properties host tournaments for the Saudi-funded LIV Golf league. The New York Times reported this week that the Trump Organization is exploring a major new real-estate partnership with the kingdom.
“There are massive ethical questions,” Leber said. “It’s very obvious that Gulf states have realized the way you get to Trump is to enrich his family, his friends or promise to do so later.”
Asked about his family’s financial ties, Trump responded that his businesses operate “all over” and said he is no longer involved in daily management.
Human rights still in spotlight
Human rights advocates say Washington should use its leverage to pressure the kingdom on issues ranging from political detentions to executions. Human Rights Watch reported an “unprecedented surge” in executions in 2025, with 241 people put to death as of Aug. 5.
While MBS has eased some social restrictions — from women’s mobility to Western entertainment events — his critics say reforms have not been matched with political openness.
“He’s fundamentally reoriented Saudi society,” Hanna said. “There’s incredible social change, but he’s operating without any real constraints.”
