The President of the United States says that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia told him he does not know what happened at the country's consulate in Istanbul. He also criticized the media for condemning Saudi Arabia regarding the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi. According to Reuters, Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday afternoon, October 16, that he had just spoken on the phone with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who completely denies having any knowledge of what happened at their consulate in Turkey. Trump continued in his tweet: '[The Crown Prince] told me that a detailed and thorough investigation has begun and will soon expand. Answers are on the way.' On the same day, Trump told the Associated Press that the media's condemnation of Saudi Arabia is another example of how the media 'condemns' the accused until their 'innocence' is proven. Hours before Trump's remarks, he had told Fox Business that if King Salman or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew anything about Khashoggi's fate, 'it would be bad.' This comes after Trump said on Monday that following a call with the Saudi king, he learned that King Salman expressed ignorance about Khashoggi's fate, adding that his impression from the conversation was that 'rogue killers' might be involved. Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Riyadh, disappeared on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials believe that 15 Saudi men who arrived in Istanbul on the same day are linked to Khashoggi's disappearance. U.S. media reported on Monday, October 23, that Saudi Arabia is preparing to present a report on Khashoggi's death, which is expected to state that he was killed during an interrogation inside the consulate. A Turkish official told CNN on Tuesday that Khashoggi's body was dismembered after the murder. Alongside the U.S. government, congressional officials have also expressed their positions regarding Khashoggi's disappearance and have heavily criticized Riyadh. In the latest instance, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday accused Mohammed bin Salman of ordering Khashoggi's murder and called him a 'rogue prince' who jeopardizes relations between Riyadh and Washington. Riyadh has yet to make an official statement regarding Khashoggi's fate.
Trump: Saudi Crown Prince Says He Doesn't Know What Happened at the Consulate
U.S. President Trump reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman claimed ignorance about the events surrounding journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Trump criticized media condemnation of Saudi Arabia and suggested that investigations are ongoing. This situation is significant as it highlights tensions between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia amidst international scrutiny.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
President Trump reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman claimed he was unaware of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance. Trump criticized media reactions and suggested that investigations are ongoing.
- Khashoggi disappeared on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
- Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing a report suggesting Khashoggi was killed during an interrogation.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Jamal Khashoggi was a prominent critic of the Saudi government, and his disappearance has raised serious concerns about human rights in Saudi Arabia and the country's international relations.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%