“Stuff happens,” remarked President Donald Trump when discussing the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a news conference with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
An ABC News reporter posed a question regarding Khashoggi, leading Trump to label the network as “fake news.” He asserted that the crown prince was not aware of the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi’s death.
“As for this gentleman, he’s done an exceptional job. Sure, he’s a controversial figure,” Trump stated. “Many didn’t have a favorable view of him. Whether one loved him or despised him, things happen.”
“But he wasn’t aware of anything. We can just leave it at that. There’s no need to put our guests in an awkward position with such questions,” he continued.
The Crown Prince also addressed inquiries.
“It’s tough for journalists to hear about the loss of lives, whether through real actions or legal means. It’s a difficult topic for us in Saudi Arabia, too,” he noted.
According to Breitbart News’ John Hayward, the Saudi government claimed that rogue agents were responsible for Khashoggi’s death, which occurred when he visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Eleven individuals faced trial for the murder, and several officials lost their jobs.
After an investigation, the Crown Prince was exonerated from any wrongdoing.
MBS stated on Tuesday: “We’ve taken necessary steps within Saudi Arabia, including investigations, and improved our systems to avoid such incidents. This was painful and a grave mistake, and we are committed to preventing it from happening again.”
Relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia became more complicated under former President Joe Biden, who described the crown prince as a “pariah.”
Biden ran his campaign on the promise of isolating MBS over Khashoggi’s murder, yet quickly shifted his stance after facing economic challenges. Eventually, he reached out to Saudi Arabia to boost oil production, though Riyadh seems to remember his “pariah” label.
The Biden administration’s 2021 intelligence report on Khashoggi’s assassination stated that MBS had approved the killing but didn’t recommend any consequences for him. The report also touched on the horrific aspects of Khashoggi’s murder, including details about the improper use of a bone saw on the body.
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Since President Trump returned to office in 2025, there’s been a “reset” in U.S.-Saudi relations. During his visit to Saudi Arabia in May, Trump was greeted warmly, resulting in an announcement of $600 billion in U.S. investments from MBS.
During the talks, investment pledges from the Crown Prince were raised from $600 billion to almost $1 trillion. President Trump and the Crown Prince then shared a bilateral lunch while the reporters were present.
Trump Comments on Murdered Journalist Jamal Khashoggi During Meeting with Saudi Crown Prince: ‘Things Happen’
“Stuff happens,” remarked President Donald Trump when discussing the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a news conference with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
An ABC News reporter posed a question regarding Khashoggi, leading Trump to label the network as “fake news.” He asserted that the crown prince was not aware of the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi’s death.
“As for this gentleman, he’s done an exceptional job. Sure, he’s a controversial figure,” Trump stated. “Many didn’t have a favorable view of him. Whether one loved him or despised him, things happen.”
“But he wasn’t aware of anything. We can just leave it at that. There’s no need to put our guests in an awkward position with such questions,” he continued.
The Crown Prince also addressed inquiries.
“It’s tough for journalists to hear about the loss of lives, whether through real actions or legal means. It’s a difficult topic for us in Saudi Arabia, too,” he noted.
According to Breitbart News’ John Hayward, the Saudi government claimed that rogue agents were responsible for Khashoggi’s death, which occurred when he visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Eleven individuals faced trial for the murder, and several officials lost their jobs.
After an investigation, the Crown Prince was exonerated from any wrongdoing.
MBS stated on Tuesday: “We’ve taken necessary steps within Saudi Arabia, including investigations, and improved our systems to avoid such incidents. This was painful and a grave mistake, and we are committed to preventing it from happening again.”
Relations between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia became more complicated under former President Joe Biden, who described the crown prince as a “pariah.”
During the talks, investment pledges from the Crown Prince were raised from $600 billion to almost $1 trillion. President Trump and the Crown Prince then shared a bilateral lunch while the reporters were present.
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