Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized President Donald Trump for supporting the Saudi Crown Prince in connection to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump had praised Mohammed Bin Salman despite the CIA’s assertion that he was responsible for Khashoggi’s brutal murder.
In a meeting at the White House with Salman, Trump downplayed the incident, claiming the Prince had no knowledge of it. Pence, speaking after a speech at Chatham House Think Tank in London, distanced himself from Trump’s remarks, stating he wouldn’t have made the same statement. While acknowledging the importance of the US-Saudi relationship, Pence indicated that his approach would have differed if he had been in Trump’s position.
During Salman’s visit, Trump welcomed him with military jets and trumpets, describing Khashoggi as a “controversial” figure disliked by many, and insisting that Salman was unaware of the murder. Khashoggi was killed and dismembered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, an act later deemed a “premeditated extrajudicial execution” by the UN.
Trump, when questioned about the murder, reacted defensively and threatened the reporter, while Salman characterized Khashoggi’s killing as a “huge mistake.” He emphasized the pain caused by the loss of life and stated that Saudi Arabia had conducted a thorough investigation.
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