"They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," President Donald Trump said of the kingdom. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo White House Trump hails Saudis as 'spectacular ally' in wake of CIA Khashoggi reports
President Donald Trump on Saturday heralded Saudi Arabia as a “spectacular ally” two days after his administration leveled sanctions against 17 Saudi officials for the death of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The president said he had not yet been briefed by the CIA on the latest developments in the investigation into Khashoggi’s murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month, but he would speak to intelligence officials and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo later Saturday.
Trump demurred on any potential involvement by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom the CIA has concluded ordered Khashoggi’s assassination by a team of Saudi agents, according to a report first published Friday by the Washington Post .
“As of this moment we were told that he did not play a role,” the president told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, before embarking to California to observe the devastation from a spate of wildfires that have torn across the state, killing more than five dozen and leaving hundreds missing. “We’re going to have to find out what they have to say.”
Trump also rejected a Thursday report by NBC News alleging that his administration is considering extraditing exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen in the hope of dissuading Turkish President Recep Erdogan from punishing the Saudis for Khashoggi’s murder.
“It’s not under consideration,” Trump said, adding that “we’re having a very good moment with Turkey,” and citing Erdogan’s release of American pastor Andrew Brunson in October.
“You know, we also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia,” the president said. “They give us a lot of jobs and a lot of business and economic development. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development.”
RayWencube on November 17th, 2018 at 15:40 UTC »
Remember when Trump voters screeched during the campaign that Secretary Clinton would be beholden to Saudi Arabia?
BigNickDipples on November 17th, 2018 at 14:41 UTC »
A "spectacular ally" who financed the single greatest terrorist attack on US soil in history. Meanwhile, Trump has declared Canada a national security threat.
Donald Trump is a traitor to the American people. He is putting his own personal finances above the safety and security of the nation.
Shame on everyone who supports this traitor.
bestbeforeMar91 on November 17th, 2018 at 14:26 UTC »
Trump is friends with a lot of powerful and rich murderers. It’s just a Trump thing.