The President of the USA, , stated that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, (MBS), “knew nothing” about the murder of the columnist for Washington Post Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, during a meeting to announce economic agreements at the White House.
“A lot of people didn’t like this gentleman you’re talking about,” Trump said when asked about Khashoggi while sitting with the Saudi prince in the Oval Office. “Whether you like him or not, things happen, but he didn’t know any better, and we can leave it at that.”
Earlier, Trump said Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader had done an “incredible” job on human rights. A 2021 US intelligence report implicated the 40-year-old prince, known as MBS, in the death of Khashoggi, who was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Turkey.
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The leaders said they expected talks this Tuesday (18) to focus on expanding Saudi Arabia’s investment in the US to up to US$1 trillion, compared to US$600 billion previously disclosed. Trump said the US would likely approve a defense deal with the oil-rich kingdom and a civil nuclear deal, reiterating that .
Trump said Israel was aware of the F-35 sale, which it had previously opposed, and that it would “be happy.”
Trump also said the leaders hoped to agree to the sale of some advanced artificial intelligence chips to Saudi Arabia. They also discussed the possibility of Saudi Arabia establishing formal diplomatic ties with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords, although MBS has indicated an interest in moving forward with the creation of a Palestinian state.
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The meeting between Trump and MBS cements a growing relationship that the oil kingdom says will promote peace and stability in the Middle East. The prince was received with pomp and circumstance usually reserved for monarchs and heads of state, including a flyby of six fighter jets and a procession with at least a dozen horses.
“Saudi Arabia is an emerging economic power among the G-20 countries and a major investment partner of the US,” wrote Saudi commentator Abdulrahman al-Rashed, near the royal court, before the visit. “It is no exaggeration to say that the success of Saudi-American relations will have a major impact on the stability and prosperity of the region.”
One possible deal to be finalized is the sale of F-35s, with Trump stating on Monday (17) that “we are going to do it” when asked about the transaction. Israel, the US’s main ally in the Middle East, is the only country in the region that has planes manufactured by Lockheed Martin and wants to maintain this monopoly, but this obstacle has apparently been overcome.
However, Trump’s authorization is just an initial step in negotiations that will likely take years, with Washington interested in protecting the aircraft’s advanced technology, especially given Riyadh’s defense ties with China.
The visit to the White House and the signing of the agreements are important victories for the Saudi leader, who until a few years ago was shunned by many traditional Western allies — including, briefly, Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden — over the murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
This Tuesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and golfer Tiger Woods are expected to attend the dinner at the White House, according to the Punchbowl News. Senior executives from major technology and energy companies are also expected to participate in an investment forum on Wednesday.
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Overshadowing much of Tuesday’s cooperation is the fact that the U.S.-Saudi relationship depends on MBS’s good relationship with Trump, which dates back to the American leader’s first term. The agreements — including the main defense pact — do not have binding commitments, which must be approved by Congress and can be undone by any future president.
“The challenge for the Saudis is that there are no formal guarantees that this will survive the Trump administration,” said Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “The reality is that although MBS will probably be in power in three decades, he will have to deal with a succession of American presidents.”
The dynamic is clear on the issue of the possible normalization of Saudi Arabia’s relations with Israel, a long-term objective of Washington and especially Trump. The topic is unlikely to move forward during this visit, with the war in Gaza in a fragile ceasefire state and MBS firm on the condition that steps must first be taken towards the creation of a Palestinian state.
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Another point of uncertainty is Saudi Arabia’s desire to import advanced American AI chips, from companies such as Nvidia and AMD, whose exports have been restricted by Washington since 2023. The two parties are seeking to resolve security concerns before the U.S. grants the license, people familiar with the matter said last week.
© 2025 Bloomberg L.P.
