Donald Trump defended the Saudi crown prince, who was questioned over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

The American president received Mohammed bin Salman with more respect than any other leader to serve in the White House since he returned to power in January.

Apart from offering spectacular diplomatic rehabilitation to MBS, on Tuesday 18 November, Donald Trump staunchly defended the Saudi crown prince regarding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. “You’re talking about a very controversial person. A lot of people don’t like this guy you’re talking about. Like it or not, things happen.”launched the 79-year-old Republican in response to a question about the former columnist of The Washington Post.

Muhammad bin Salman “know nothing”said the American president, who violently attacked the ABC journalist who asked the question. He accused her of trying to do it “embarrassing” which he describes as “very good friend”. Received with a horse escort, cannon fire and a flyover of F-15 and F-35 fighter planes, the de facto leader of the Saudi kingdom also rightfully received praise from Donald Trump, in the Oval Office, for his record. “extraordinary in terms of human rights”.

Residing in the United States, critical of Saudi power after being close to it, Jamal Khasshoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by agents from Saudi Arabia. His dismembered body was never found. The American secret service pointed to the direct responsibility of Mohammed bin Salman, practically freezing, for the time being, relations between the two allies. On Tuesday, Donald Trump greeted him with more respect than any other leader to occupy the White House since he returned to power in January.

After this exchange, Jamal Khashoggi’s widow asked the crown prince “apology”. “Nothing justifies the murder of my husband. Jamal was of course a good, honest and brave person, but many do not share his opinion or attachment to press freedom.“, he wrote.

The American president also confirmed that the two countries were discussing concluding a framework agreement on civil nuclear power, and he pledged to agree to the Saudi request for F-35 fighter jets. In return, he hopes Saudi Arabia will join the Abraham Accords, his grand project to normalize relations between Arab countries and Israel.

But the Saudi leader delayed: “We want to be part of the Abraham Accords. But we also want to ensure that the path to a two-state solution is clearly mapped out”while Israel rejects the creation of a Palestinian state. “We will work to ensure that we can create the right conditions as soon as possible to achieve this”said Muhammad bin Salman.

However, he did not come to Washington empty-handed. The crown prince promised to increase the amount of Saudi investment in the United States in the future to 1,000 billion dollars, compared to 600 dollars previously, as emphasized by Donald Trump.