Trump backs Saudis in Khashoggi murder row
November 20, 2018
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Saudi Arabian complicity in the murder of dissident journalist and US resident Jamal Khashoggi would not affect relations between Washington and the Islamic kingdom.
"We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi. In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," Trump said. "The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia."
Read more: Saudi Arabia defends prince against Khashoggi murder claims
Trump has been under pressure to sanction Riyadh as well as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly concluded was involved in Khashoggi's assassination.
"It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn't," Trump said.
Trump also dedicated the opening paragraphs of his statement to criticizing Iran over its actions in the Middle East and slammed it as "the world's leading sponsor of terror."
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif jibed that Iran might also be responsible "for the California fires, because we didn't help rake the forests — just like the Finns do?"
Arms deals under threat
Senator Diane Feinstein, a Democratic lawmaker representing California, said she was "shocked" by Trump's decision to withhold any punishment. She vowed to "vote against any future arms sales and appropriation to Saudi Arabia."
"Human rights is more than just a phrase, it has to mean something. And that means standing up and condemning a brazen murder by a foreign government," Feinstein said. "Everyone who played a role in this killing must be held accountable."
In his statement, Trump specifically mentioned he would not undermine Saudi defense contracts for US military hardware worth more than $100 billion (€88 billion). Germany, on the other hand, has suspended all arms deals to Saudi Arabia and is set to impose travel bans on 18 Saudi citizens.
Read more: Germany's armed forces continue to train Saudi military officers
'Free to murder journalists'
Several news outlets and press organizations have condemned Trump's decision, with The Washington Post — Khashoggi's former employer — saying it represents "a betrayal of long-established American values of respect for human rights."
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Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said Trump has sent "an appalling message" to Riyadh as well as other countries across the globe.
"If you boil the White House statement down to its essence, President Trump has just asserted that if you do enough business with the US, you are free to murder journalists. That's an appalling message to send to Saudi Arabia and the world," said Simon.
Read more: Support grows for EU-wide arms embargo on Saudi Arabia
ls/rt (AFP, Reuters, AP)