Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi murder: 'Things happen'
Source: ABC News
November 18, 2025, 1:42 PM
Tuesday marked the first time Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has set foot in the U.S. since 2018, following what U.S. intelligence has said was his approval of an operation that led to the murder of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in Istanbul, causing global outrage.
As they met in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump responded to questions about 9/11 families angered over the visit, saying, "things happen, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that." Shortly before, Trump welcomed him to the White House with a lavish arrival ceremony, complete with Saudi flags next to American flags, a red carpet, horses and a color guard.
Cannons were fired in the background and a military flyover, featuring three F-35 and three F-16s fighters, took place overhead. Trump and MBS shook hands and smiled for the cameras before entering their bilateral meeting. "It's an honor to be your friend and it's an honor that you're here," Trump told later MBS inside the Oval Office.
The crown prince has previously denied ordering the murder of Khashoggi but ultimately acknowledged responsibility as the kingdom's de facto ruler.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/saudi-crown-prince-marks-return-us-after-7/story?id=127594469
Walleye
(43,321 posts)Chasstev365
(6,813 posts)Walleye
(43,321 posts)erronis
(22,065 posts)Maybe mbs had some photos to match dotard's pictures from the good days with epstein.
Walleye
(43,321 posts)He just loves carnage
no_hypocrisy
(53,851 posts)about Jews, gays, gypsies, and socialists.
RockRaven
(18,476 posts)a Khashoggi to one of your family members would you still just say 'things happen'?"
liberalgunwilltravel
(1,008 posts)Are praying for things to happen to TACO.
walkingman
(10,157 posts)BOSSHOG
(44,222 posts)Dave Bowman
(6,328 posts)Doodley
(11,547 posts)Walleye
(43,321 posts)tonekat
(2,413 posts)They need to say "You're our employee, and we're here to hold you to account!". Who does he think he is?
MLWR
(691 posts)Paladin
(32,076 posts)Last edited Tue Nov 18, 2025, 02:59 PM - Edit history (1)
Yesterday it was calling that reporter "Piggy." God knows what it will be tomorrow---the only certain thing is that Republicans won't do jack shit about it---why would they start doing the proper thing, now?
DinahMoeHum
(23,283 posts)B-L-O-W-I-N-G
marble falls
(69,608 posts)C_U_L8R
(48,604 posts)with bonesaws.
mdbl
(7,855 posts)2na fisherman
(181 posts)Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered into 15 pieces with a bone saw and Trump shrugs it off. Trump must also feel fine with the idea of being like-minded with those who get away with such atrocities. His psychopathy runs deep.
IronLionZion
(50,442 posts)William Seger
(12,077 posts)They're the only ones dumb enough to believe that MBS didn't know anything about it. They probably don't even realize this is another U-turn by #rump, who previously agreed with the CIA that it's hard to believe that MBS didn't order the murder five of his own security detail were involved!
orangecrush
(27,679 posts)We are going down the shitter much faster than I expected.
republianmushroom
(22,122 posts)Last edited Tue Nov 18, 2025, 07:37 PM - Edit history (1)
Kid Berwyn
(22,414 posts)Something happened.
twodogsbarking
(16,936 posts)Dave Bowman
(6,328 posts)Diamond_Dog
(39,257 posts)And take all his fake gold crap, throw it in a pile, and have a big bonfire.
usonian
(22,663 posts)Magats beware.
When Trump goes down, he's using every damn one of you as (sorta) human shields.
Trump betrays everyone close to him or who trusts him.
Starting with his WIFE.

Dave Bowman
(6,328 posts)purr-rat beauty
(868 posts)The felonious, murderous, rapist with no brain throws cover for another despotic dick
Bayard
(27,914 posts)Like murdering Venezuelan fishermen. They probably have a boy's bet going on who can kill the most victims. Both are completely immoral, and consumed with their own pleasures.
LetMyPeopleVote
(173,120 posts)Its occasionally tempting to think Trump has hit rock bottom, but then he finds a way to drill a hole in the bottom of the barrel and fall even lower.
Trump scrambles to defend Saudi crown prince in an embarrassing display.
— TheBlackPage (Woke, DEI forever against fascism) (@theblackpage.bsky.social) 2025-11-18T23:31:11.397Z
Itâs occasionally tempting to think Trump has hit rock bottom, but then he finds a way to drill a hole in the bottom of the barrel and fall even lower.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-things-happen-saudi-crown-prince-mbs-khashoggi-rcna244681
President Trump brushed aside a reporters question about the role Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, played in the death and dismemberment of a Washington Post journalist in 2018, praising the kingdoms de facto ruler in a joint Oval Office appearance that was heavy on flattery. Mr. Trump strongly defended Prince Mohammed, who U.S. intelligence has said ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist who was killed by Saudi agents. Prince Mohammed has denied involvement.
Almost immediately after the joint event began, Trump praised the Saudi leader for the job hes done in terms of human rights and everything else. Given the horrific human rights record Saudi Arabia has cultivated over the course of many years, the American presidents commendation was appalling.....
But things deteriorated further soon after.
Q: Is it appropriate for your family to be doing business in Saudi Arabia while you're president. Is that a conflict of interest? And your royal highness, the US intel community concluded you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journali---
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-11-18T17:44:41.681Z
TRUMP: Who are you with?
Q: ABC News
TRUMP: Fake news
When a reporter pressed Trump on his obvious conflicts of interest, and the crown prince on intelligence pointing to his role in orchestrating the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Republican interrupted to dismiss ABC News correspondent as fake news.
Moments later, Trump suggested that Khashoggi had it coming.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone 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. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-11-18T17:46:32.144Z
......As for the idea that the reporters question might embarrass Trumps guest, its not the job of the free press to protect the feelings of foreign authoritarians.
Trump soon after whined about a reporter asking the Saudi leader an insubordinate question, as if members of the free press were somehow the crown princes employees.
As the event continued, the American president horsed around with the crown prince as if they were a pair of kids having a good time. Grabbing his guests hand, Trump specifically said: I dont care where that hands been.
Its occasionally tempting to think the Republican has hit rock bottom, but then he finds a way to drill a hole in the bottom of the barrel and fall even lower.
yellow dahlia
(4,064 posts)COL Mustard
(7,837 posts)I left the house without my car keys. Oops. must have left my bone saw in my other pair of pants. Let me just zip back and get it.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(131,323 posts)BidenRocks
(2,550 posts)to EPSTEIN!
Especially sitting next to chump.
LilElf70
(1,235 posts)he has this uncanny ability to outdo his toopidity.
I saw this and sat back and said, WTF is he up to now. The prince surely must be lining someone's pocket, right? Why else would he pretend this never happened? WTF big time. And all this happened on Trump's watch.
Sure seems to me it all about the power and f**k everyone else.
BumRushDaShow
(163,781 posts)September 13, 2023 In The News
Meidas Touch - Robert Garcia calls for an investigation into Jarred Kushner on
Shortly after Speaker McCarthy announced that he was directing House committees to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, Rep. Robert Garcia called for an investigation into Jared Kushner to determine the circumstances behind a $2 billion investment secured by Kushner from the Saudi Government just months after leaving the Trump White House.
Garcia makes the case for the investigation by stating that:
Kushner pushed his way into a job in his father-in-laws administration with no experience. Kushner prioritized pushing out the Secretary of State in order to cozy up to the Saudi Government. There are records of a $110 billion arms deal between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia that was inflated at the direction of Kushner. Months after Kushners departure from the White House, the Saudi crown prince overruled his own investment advisors and sent $2 billion into Kushner's companies' bank account.
(snip)
colorado_ufo
(6,187 posts)He will never go to prison. He will be impeached, and then he will flee to Saudi Arabia to live in one of his new hotels there.
Remember this post.
markodochartaigh
(4,689 posts)Mohammed bone Sawman to carve the Whitehouse Thanksgiving turkey.
electric_blue68
(25,102 posts)Seems to me drumphf (face) looks weirder than us usual in that photo. It might be the camera angle.
I do my best to mostly avoid looking at his photos! Or very briefly.
Bread and Circuses
(1,436 posts)cstanleytech
(28,068 posts)trusty elf
(7,532 posts)