Washington D.C. - A meeting between former President Donald trump and Saudi Crown Prince mohammed bin Salman yielded discussions ranging from the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to a potential $10 trillion arms deal,according to statements released Friday. The encounter, the first U.S. visit by the Crown Prince since Khashoggi’s death, underscores the complex relationship between the two nations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and scrutiny of Saudi Arabia‘s human rights record.
The meeting, held in the United States, saw trump defend the Crown Prince, stating, “Bin Salman knew nothing about the assassination.” This assertion directly contradicts a 2019 assessment by the U.S. intelligence community, specifically from the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which concluded that Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s murder in istanbul, Turkey. khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi royal family, was killed in the Saudi consulate.
During a portion of the meeting, Trump reportedly became visibly upset wiht ABC News journalist Mary Bruce when she questioned him about Khashoggi’s death. Trump allegedly told Bruce, ”Your news is fake,” and later expressed a desire to curtail ABC News’ coverage.
Beyond the sensitive topic of Khashoggi’s murder, the leaders discussed a meaningful arms agreement. Mohammed bin Salman indicated Saudi Arabia intends to purchase airplanes and tanks from the United States, a deal valued at approximately ten trillion Swedish kronor. The aircraft are described as being prepared for immediate military deployment.
The discussion also extended to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Trump stated that Mohammed bin Salman requested U.S. intervention to halt the fighting. According to Trump’s website,the U.S. is now expected to collaborate with Saudi Arabia and Egypt to facilitate peace in Sudan.
