Trump tells reporter not to ’embarrass’ crown prince by asking about journalist’s killing
After opening the floor to questions, Donald Trump has told a reporter not to “embarrass” the Saudi crown prince by asking a question about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“As far as this gentlemen is concerned, he’s done a phenomenal job,” Trump says, referring to the crown prince.
“You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. 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, but he knew nothing about it and we can leave it at that.
“You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question.”
Watch the moment below…
Today marks the crown prince’s first visit to the US since the killing of Khashoggi in 2018 at the country’s consulate in Istanbul.
US intelligence concluded that the crown prince approved the capture or killing of Khashoggi, a prominent critic.
Bin Salman has denied this but acknowledged responsibility as de-facto ruler.
Crown prince responds
The Saudi crown prince then comes in and tells Trump “allow me to answer”.
“I feel painful about, you know, the families of 9/11 but, you know, we have to focus on reality,” he says.
“Reality based on CIA documents and based on what documents that Bin Laden used Saudi people and that event for one main purpose, to destroy this relation, to destroy the American-Saudi relation.
“Whoever [is] buying that, that means they are helping Bin Laden’s purpose of destroying this relation.”
