Trump Downplays Jamal Khashoggi Killing Amid Saudi Crown Prince's Presidential Meeting

Ex-President Donald Trump appeared to shrug off the 2018 murder of reporter Jamal Khashoggi, labeling him an "highly divisive" person that was unpopular.

Oval Office Talks alongside Saudi Crown Prince

The statements came during a presidential meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking his inaugural appearance after the columnist's killing abroad.

American spy agencies determined that the prince authorized the assassination, but Trump insisted that the prince "was unaware" about it.

Trump's Reaction to Reporter's Question

Trump further rebuked the news professional who asked about the issue, proposing that the network deserve to lose its license.

"A lot of individuals were not fond of that gentleman you're talking about," the former president commented. "Regardless of your opinion, events unfolded, but he knew nothing."

The crown prince replied, "It hurts and it's a huge mistake, and we are striving to stop it from happening again."

Economic Agreements and Defense Transactions

The talks further emphasized planned Saudi Arabian investment in the US, originally presented at six hundred billion dollars, but potentially expanded to a trillion-dollar sum.

The former president stated his plan to provide top-tier F-35 stealth fighter jets to Riyadh, in spite of concerns from Israel and American spy agencies.

The two men additionally revealed talks regarding a possible arrangement for the kingdom to formalize relations with Israel in exchange for a sovereign Palestine.

Middle Eastern Concerns and Challenges

The planned sale of F-35s has sparked anxiety within Israel, which currently possesses the advanced plane in the region.

US intelligence are apprehensive due to Saudi Arabia's close military cooperation with Beijing, highlighting apprehensions about security breaches.

However, the former president stated that the kingdom should receive the same high-grade jets as Tel Aviv, citing them being "reliable friends" of the US.

Broader Deals

In addition to military transactions, American authorities mentioned plans for multibillion-dollar Saudi Arabian capital in America's AI sector, as well as greater cooperation on civil nuclear power initiatives.

"We confirm that we will raise that $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion," the Saudi leader declared.

Political Complications

The former president's administration is aiming an atomic and defense partnership deal with Saudi Arabia, that the current government had tried unsuccessfully to secure.

Yet, recent events, such as the October assault followed by ensuing Israeli military actions in Palestinian territories, have complicated the prospects of such a deal.

"After October 7, in my view the cost for Riyadh to commit to diplomatic ties with the Israelis has risen substantially," a former peace envoy commented.

Future Discussions

"We wish to participate the normalization agreements, but we additionally seek to ensure a concrete plan for a two-state solution," the Saudi leader declared.

Trump agreed, noting, "We conducted a productive talk about diplomatic ties. We discussed about potential solutions."

"We covered about numerous issues quickly. We will continue it further," Trump added. "However, I believe you possess a clear grasp regarding normalization."

Controversy Regarding Commercial Links

The meeting was also contentious over possible connections between the former president's family private business interests and Middle Eastern nations.

The former president dismissed any conflict of interest, claiming he has "withdrawn from his business empire" and dedicated "100% of his energy" to the presidency.

"I have no involvement to do with their commercial activities," he stated. "Their business dealings is permissible. They do business worldwide. They've done very little with Riyadh, truthfully. I'm sure opportunities exist. And anything they've done has been very good."