Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized President Donald Trump for supporting the Saudi Crown Prince regarding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump had a friendly meeting with Mohammed Bin Salman, despite the CIA implicating him in Khashoggi’s brutal killing.
During Salman’s visit to the Oval Office, Trump absolved him of any involvement, stating, “Things happen. He knew nothing about it.” Pence, speaking after a speech at the Chatham House Think Tank in London, disagreed with Trump’s defense, emphasizing that he would not have made such a statement if he were in that position.
Trump’s warm reception for Salman included a military flypast and lavish welcome, where he downplayed Khashoggi’s murder by calling him “controversial” and implying that Salman was unaware of the incident. Pence noted the importance of the US-Saudi relationship but hinted that he would have handled the meeting differently.
Khashoggi went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. Turkish officials discovered evidence of his murder and subsequent dismemberment. The UN later attributed the “premeditated extrajudicial execution” of Khashoggi to the Saudi state.
In response to questions about the murder, Trump denounced the reporter and threatened to revoke ABC’s license. Salman acknowledged the incident as a mistake and stated that steps were taken to investigate it thoroughly, expressing sorrow over the loss of life.
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