President Trump said Tuesday the U.S. would maintain a “steadfast” alliance with Saudi Arabia in a defiant statement that made it clear Trump does not want the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi to disrupt the relationship between the two nations.
Trump refused to blame Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Khashoggi’s killing even though the CIA has reportedly concluded that the crown prince ordered his assassination. The CIA on Tuesday was expected to share its full report on the killing with Trump.
“Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” the president said, adding that “we may never know” who was responsible.
The president later told reporters at the White House that the CIA “didn’t make a determination” as to whether Crown Prince Mohammed ordered Khashoggi’s murder, despite published reports it did.
Trump indicated he believes the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia should override any concerns about Crown Prince Mohammed’s alleged involvement in the plot, a stance that angered members of Congress and other U.S. allies who have pressured Trump to hold the crown prince responsible.
“The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!” the president said.
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#BREAKING: Trump vows US loyalty to Saudi Arabia despite report that CIA believes Saudi crown prince ordered Khashoggi killing https://t.co/rLFAkSlesv pic.twitter.com/XEmWQ7R3VL
— The Hill (@thehill) November 20, 2018
Either Trump is really this stupid or the Saudis loaned Trump some money and he can’t pay it back.
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