Trump Defends MBS on Khashoggi, Pledges F-35 Sales Amid $1 Trillion Saudi Investment

US-Saudi Defense and Investment Dealings

• 🇺🇸 President Trump confirmed the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, stating it's not part of a security agreement but a purchase.
• 🤝 The US aims to maintain a strong defense partnership with Saudi Arabia, viewing them as a great ally, similar to Israel.
• 💰 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced an increase in US investment pledges from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion, covering areas like technology and AI.

Handling the Khashoggi Controversy

• 🗣️ Trump defended MBS regarding Jamal Khashoggi's murder, stating that Khashoggi was a controversial figure and that MBS knew nothing about the incident.
• 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia claims to have conducted investigations and improved its systems to prevent such incidents from happening again, acknowledging it as a painful mistake.

Broader Geopolitical Context

• 🕊️ Saudi Arabia expressed a desire to be part of the Abraham Accords while ensuring a clear path towards a two-state solution.
• 💼 Discussions were held with President Trump to prepare for the right situation to advance the peace process.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Trump clarified that his family's business dealings, which he has left, have had minimal involvement with Saudi Arabia but have been successful.