In a significant diplomatic event that has drawn global attention, former US President Donald Trump has publicly defended Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. During the Prince's high-profile visit to the White House on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Trump insisted that MBS had no prior knowledge of the killing, a statement that directly challenges the findings of US intelligence agencies.
A Warm Welcome Amidst Controversy
The meeting between the two leaders was marked by a display of strong personal camaraderie and official pomp. Trump hosted an elaborate welcome ceremony for the Crown Prince, his first visit to the White House since the murder that severely strained US-Saudi ties. The reception included a military band, dozens of uniformed personnel lining the route, and a dramatic fighter-jet flyover. This red-carpet treatment stood in stark contrast to the diplomatic cold shoulder MBS had previously faced in Washington.
Before their formal talks, Trump gave the Saudi leader a personal tour of the West Wing, amiably pointing out presidential portraits. This warm reception was notably different from former President Joe Biden's 2022 encounter with the Prince in Jeddah, which was limited to a fist bump and reflected the ongoing tensions at the time.
Contradicting the CIA's Assessment
When questioned by reporters about the Khashoggi case, Trump was unequivocal in his defense of the Crown Prince. "He knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that," Trump stated, adding a controversial remark about the slain journalist: "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen."
This assertion directly contradicts the conclusion of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which had determined that Prince Mohammed bin Salman likely ordered the operation that led to Khashoggi's death inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The journalist, a Saudi citizen and permanent resident of Virginia, was a prominent critic of the Saudi government.
MBS Responds and Trump Praises Human Rights Record
For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman maintained his long-standing denial of any involvement in the killing. He described the murder as a "huge mistake" and a "painful for us in Saudi Arabia." He asserted that the kingdom had taken "all the right steps" in investigating the journalist's death.
Despite widespread and persistent criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record, Trump praised the Crown Prince as a transformative leader. "We have an extremely respected man in the Oval Office today, a friend of mine for a long time, a very good friend of mine," Trump said. "I'm very proud of the job he's done. What he's done is incredible, in terms of human rights, and everything else."
The visit, occurring seven years after the killing, underscores Trump's continued embrace of the Saudi leader, whom he views as central to shaping the future geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, even as the shadow of the Khashoggi affair continues to loom over international perceptions.
