President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a tense meeting yesterday, where they discussed the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, sparking outrage among some 9/11 families over their attendance at an event in the White House.
During the conversation, which was captured on video by ABC News, President Trump initially expressed his desire to improve relations with Saudi Arabia but failed to address concerns about Khashoggi's death. Instead, he claimed that no one had informed him of the murder when it occurred and seemed to shift blame onto US intelligence agencies.
The Saudi Crown Prince, however, took a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging the kingdom's "role in what happened" to Khashoggi but downplaying its involvement in his death. The prince repeatedly claimed that the journalist was killed by members of the CIA and other foreign operatives, citing a claim that has been disputed by US intelligence.
The video footage also captured an exchange between President Trump and a reporter from ABC News, during which he admitted to meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year in March and expressed his support for the visit.
In response to criticism over their visit, the White House released a statement claiming that both events were part of the president's efforts to "strengthen the bond between our two countries." Critics, however, see the move as tone-deaf given the kingdom's reputation for human rights abuses and Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement in Khashoggi's murder.
During the conversation, which was captured on video by ABC News, President Trump initially expressed his desire to improve relations with Saudi Arabia but failed to address concerns about Khashoggi's death. Instead, he claimed that no one had informed him of the murder when it occurred and seemed to shift blame onto US intelligence agencies.
The Saudi Crown Prince, however, took a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging the kingdom's "role in what happened" to Khashoggi but downplaying its involvement in his death. The prince repeatedly claimed that the journalist was killed by members of the CIA and other foreign operatives, citing a claim that has been disputed by US intelligence.
The video footage also captured an exchange between President Trump and a reporter from ABC News, during which he admitted to meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last year in March and expressed his support for the visit.
In response to criticism over their visit, the White House released a statement claiming that both events were part of the president's efforts to "strengthen the bond between our two countries." Critics, however, see the move as tone-deaf given the kingdom's reputation for human rights abuses and Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement in Khashoggi's murder.
. I mean, what even is going on here? Trump just brushes off the fact that Khashoggi got murdered and then shifts blame onto the CIA... like, come on dude. And MBS (that's Mohammed bin Salman for those who don't know) just plays dumb too. It's so suspicious when he claims it was a bunch of foreign operatives who did it... sounds like some pretty dodgy stuff to me 
. I don't get why the White House is trying to spin this as some kind of good thing, though... isn't acknowledging Saudi Arabia's role in Khashoggi's death kinda basic? It just feels like they're trying to sweep this under the rug instead of actually addressing it.
what's even more wild is that trump is deflecting blame onto the US intel agencies like they're the ones who did it lol no one really buys that 
meanwhile, saudi prince is trying to downplay their kingdom's involvement in khashoggi's death which is just not adding up 
and honestly, can't believe they're still going strong with trump despite all the controversy surrounding him and saudi arabia's human rights record 
needs a serious rethink
The fact that the Saudi Crown Prince shifted blame onto US intelligence is super suspicious too. Something dont add up here...
I mean, come on, dude, you're basically saying the CIA killed him? That's wild 
. And then he goes and meets with MBS last year in March, after the whole Khashoggi thing went down... it just looks like Trump is trying to whitewash Saudi Arabia's reputation for human rights abuses. I don't get why anyone would be okay with this... it's all about covering their own backsides 
. The White House thinks they're being "diplomatic" but really they're just enabling MBS's crazy behavior 
.
He thinks he's some kind of victim, like no one told him about Khashoggi's murder or something... GIVE ME A BREAK! 
He's just spewing out ridiculous claims without any evidence, and Trump is eating it up like a good little lapdog. It's just disgusting how they're both trying to whitewash this whole thing and pretend that everything is okay when it's NOT OKAY AT ALL!!! 
. It's like he thinks we're all just gonna forget about it 'cause he says so? Newsflash, Prez: the world sees right through that BS. And what's with the CIA and foreign operatives claim? That's like something out of a bad spy novel 
and blame it on the CIA? 
come on! The fact that they're hangin out at the White House is just plain insensitive 
I mean, those 9/11 fams are still dealin with trauma from their loved ones' deaths and Trump's just like "let's party" 
meanwhile, Khashoggi's body is still in a Turkish forest 
. Can't Trump see that this whole thing is a huge PR fail?
. White House just trying to spin this as a "friendship" thing, but let's be real, Saudi Arabia's got some serious skeletons in its closet 
.