WASHINGTON, 19 Nov. - (ANA) - An ABC reporter raised the issue of why Americans should trust Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, noting that US intelligence had concluded he approved the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

 

Trump dismissed ABC News as “fake news” and then contradicted US intelligence regarding the crown prince’s involvement, saying:

 

“You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman [Khashoggi] that you’re talking about. Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he [bin Salman] knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that. You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking something like that.”

 

US intelligence determined in 2021 that bin Salman authorised the capture or killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The crown prince denied ordering the operation, though he accepted responsibility as the kingdom’s de facto leader.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/19 November 2025 - - -