CBS News reports:
President Trump met with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday while they were in Osaka, Japan, calling the crown prince a “friend of mine.” Mr. Trump called bin Salman “a man who has really done things in the last 5 years in terms of opening of Saudi Arabia.”
Mr. Trump did not answer questions about Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. An independent U.N. human rights expert investigating Khashoggi’s death said earlier this month there is “credible evidence” linking bin Salman’s to the murder. Bin Salman has denied any involvement.
Mr. Trump on Saturday praised bin Salman for doing a “speculator job” and said they’ve had meetings on “trade, and economic development and on the military.”
CNN reports:
Earlier Saturday, during a working breakfast with the prince, Trump brushed off a question about whether he would raise the subject of Khashoggi’s murder. “Uh,” Trump said, as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sat frowning next to him, “thank you very much.”
And despite Trump’s claim that “nobody has directly pointed a finger” at bin Salman, his own CIA, according to a senior US official and a source familiar with the matter, concluded the Saudi ruler authorized the brutal murder. A United Nations report released last week also implicated bin Salman.
JUST IN: President Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince bin Salman at G-20 in Japan, calls him “a friend of mine” and says that he’s done “really a spectacular job” and that it’s a “great honor” to meet with him. pic.twitter.com/cKvZ8qWFQc
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 29, 2019
Trump lavishes praise on MBS at breakfast, telling him he has done a “spectacular job.” He makes no mention of Khashoggi murder, which the US has concluded the crown prince ordered.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) June 28, 2019
Trump and MBS are meeting on a high floor of the Imperial Hotel in Osaka right now. Trump calls the Saudi crown prince “a friend of mine” and says it’s an “honor” to be with him. pic.twitter.com/4EMhkS4Mqj
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) June 28, 2019
Trump ignores question on Jamal #Khashoggi at the start of a meeting with his “great friend” Saudi Crown Prince MBS, whom the UN said last week orchestrated Khashoggi’s murder. @narativlive @traciemac_Bmore pic.twitter.com/naVHNVtYmc
— Zev Shalev (@ZevShalev) June 29, 2019
Excusing MBS for Khashoggi just now, joking with Putin about election meddling and “getting rid of” journalists, and requesting another meeting with Kim, Trump signaling once again that human rights are not a priority for his admin.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) June 29, 2019
Asked by reporters if he’ll meet Kim Jong Un, Trump waxes on about his good relationship for three minutes. Then asked if he’ll raise death of Jamal Kashoggi with MbS, Trump abruptly tries to end photo-op. “Thank you, everybody.”
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) June 28, 2019