Trump welcoming Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who arrived in America for the first time after the Khagoshi murder case (PTI)

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is currently on a tour of America. This is his first visit to the US since the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in 2018. President Donald Trump gave a warm welcome to the Crown Prince in Washington on Tuesday. During this time, when the Crown Prince was asked a question about the journalist’s murder, he dismissed it and said, “Whether you like them or not, things keep happening.” Also threatened the journalist.

President Trump called ABC News journalist Mary Bruce a “useless reporter” and threatened to jeopardize the network’s broadcast license if she asked her three sharp questions at the White House. The news network’s chief White House correspondent was among the journalists allowed into the Oval Office to ask questions of the President and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He asked Trump whether it was appropriate for his family to do business in Saudi Arabia while he was president.

Trump calls ABC “fake news”

Before the President could respond, Mary Bruce also questioned the Saudi leader, “Your Excellency, the American intelligence agency has concluded that you plotted the brutal murder of a journalist. The families of the 9/11 victims are angry that you are in the Oval Office. Why should Americans trust you? And President Trump, the same applies to you.” After asking Bruce who she worked for, President Trump labeled ABC “fake news” and also defended his family’s business operations in Saudi Arabia.

The President rejected the findings of US intelligence agencies which claimed that the Crown Prince may have had some role in the murder of Saudi Arabia critic and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. He said Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen and Virginia resident, “was not liked by a lot of people.”

Relations remained cold for 7 years due to murder

Before the question and answer, President Trump warmly welcomed Prince Mohammed upon his arrival at the White House on Tuesday morning. Relations between America and Saudi Arabia had soured due to the operation targeting journalist Khashoggi, a staunch critic of Saudi Arabia. American intelligence agencies later found that Prince Mohammed had instructed the agents to carry out this operation.

However, after 7 years of this famous murder case, the dark clouds over the relations between the two countries have disappeared. Trump has further increased his affection for the 40-year-old Crown Prince. They consider him to be a person who will play an important role in reshaping the Middle East region in the coming decades. On the other hand, Prince Mohammed has denied his involvement in the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen and Virginia resident.

Question to the Crown Prince, but Trump answered

The two leaders gave details of mutual deals worth billions of dollars and also held meetings with their aides to discuss the difficult path ahead in the volatile Middle East, while nothing was said about the Khashoggi murder case.

The President rejected questions asked by the Crown Prince about the journalist’s murder. “Things happen whether you like them or not,” Trump said of the high-profile international incident. Also in defense of the Prince, Trump mocked Khashoggi by calling him “very controversial” and said that “a lot of people did not like that gentleman.”

Asked about the international incident by a reporter in the Oval Office with Prince Mohammed, Trump said, “Things happen whether you like them or not.” He said, “But (Prince Mohammed) did not know anything about it and we can leave it at that. You do not need to embarrass our guest by asking such a question.”

Trump administration did not release the report

But US intelligence officials found that the Saudi Crown Prince may have approved the killing of the American journalist by Saudi agents inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, according to US findings made public in 2021 at the beginning of the Joe Biden administration. However, Trump officials, during his first administration, had refused to release this report.

During a meeting with Prince Salman in the Oval Office, Trump praised Saudi Arabia for the progress it has made on human rights, although he did not provide specific details. The President said, “I am very proud of the work he has done. What he has done in terms of human rights and all other aspects is absolutely incredible.”

Saudi connection of Trump family

During this time, the Crown Prince announced that Saudi Arabia is going to increase its planned investment in America to 1 trillion dollars, which is more than 600 billion dollars according to the plan of Saudi Arabia to invest in America at the time of Trump’s visit in May.

President Trump has been very enthusiastic about Saudi Arabia. His family has a deep personal interest in Saudi Arabia. About two months ago in September, London-based real estate developer Dar Global announced that it was planning to open Trump Plaza in Jeddah, a city located along the Red Sea. This is Dar Global’s second collaboration with the Trump Organization, a group of companies controlled by President Trump’s children in Saudi Arabia. Last year, both the companies had announced the launch of Trump Tower in Jeddah. However, during this meeting, Trump rejected the notion that there was any conflict of interest.

Avoiding personal gain, President Trump said, “I have nothing to do with the family business,” adding that his family has relatively little interest in Saudi Arabia. Although technically, this is not a state visit, as the Crown Prince is not currently the head of state. But Prince Mohammed’s father, 89-year-old King Salman, is ill these days, so Salman has taken over the responsibility of daily governance.