Trump Contradicts US Intelligence, Claims MBS “Knew Nothing” About Khashoggi Murder
Summary
During an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday, Donald Trump publicly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), stating the leader had no knowledge of the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This assertion stands in direct contradiction to the findings of Trump’s own intelligence services.
“He knew nothing about it,” Trump told reporters, dismissing questions about the killing as potentially embarrassing to his guest. While the Crown Prince acknowledged the event was a “huge mistake” and “painful,” he maintained that his government has since improved its investigative steps.
However, the historical record provided by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) tells a different story. A declassified 2021 report assessed that the Crown Prince approved the operation in Istanbul, Turkey, to capture or kill the dissident journalist. The brutal event involved a 15-person team, including members of the Prince’s elite personal security detail. Investigations by the UN and Turkish intelligence, supported by audio recordings from inside the consulate, detailed a struggle and subsequent dismemberment of Khashoggi.
The meeting marks a significant moment in US-Saudi relations as Trump seeks to strengthen ties during his second term. However, the comments have drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr. Speaking to reporters, Elatr emphasized that nothing can justify the crime and expressed a desire to meet with the President to humanize the memory of her late husband.
As diplomatic relations warm, the Jamal Khashoggi murder remains a contentious point of history, with the US President’s narrative now diverging sharply from the established conclusions of American intelligence agencies.
Source:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/19/what-happened-jamal-khashoggi-murder-trump-saudi-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman