Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince MBS on Khashoggi Killing, Faces Fiery Exchange

Trump's Defense of MBS and Saudi Arabia Ties

• 👑 President Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) following a question about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• 🤝 Trump expressed eagerness to deepen ties with Saudi Arabia, highlighting MBS's commitment to invest almost a trillion dollars in the US.
• 🇺🇸 The visit was marked by a red carpet welcome, including a military flyover and a personal tour of the West Wing by President Trump.
• 🌍 MBS's visit was seen as a remarkable comeback, given his previous isolation due to human rights concerns.

The Fiery Exchange in the Oval Office

• 📰 ABC News's Mary Bruce directly questioned MBS and Trump about the CIA's conclusion that MBS orchestrated the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
• 🗣️ Trump reacted defensively, stating that "things happened" but that MBS "knew nothing about it" and criticized Bruce for asking an embarrassing question.
• 💔 MBS acknowledged the killing as a "huge mistake" and expressed pain over the loss of life, vowing to prevent future occurrences.

Conflict of Interest and Press Relations

• 💰 Bruce also questioned President Trump about potential conflicts of interest regarding his family's business dealings in Saudi Arabia.
• 🚫 Trump insisted he had no involvement in his family's business and that they do business all over, with minimal current dealings in Saudi Arabia.
• 😠 The exchange highlighted Trump's tendency to attack the press when he doesn't want to answer a question, a pattern observed in other instances, including a recent comment about a female journalist.
• 🎙️ Bruce emphasized that when the president tangles with the press, it often reveals more about him than about the journalist asking the question.