🔗 Share this article

Former President Trump seemed to dismiss the killing of columnist Jamal Khashoggi, describing him as an "very contentious" figure who was not well-liked.

Oval Office Meeting with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince

These comments were made during a presidential meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, representing the prince's initial trip after the columnist's killing in Istanbul.

Intelligence officials determined that the Saudi leader had ordered the killing, yet Trump insisted that the crown prince "was unaware" of the incident.

The Former President's Reply to Journalist's Inquiry

Donald Trump also criticized the news professional who raised the matter, suggesting that the network should lose its license.

"A lot of individuals disliked that gentleman you are referring to," Trump remarked. "Regardless of your opinion, incidents happened, yet he had no idea."

Prince Mohammed responded, "It's painful and it's a huge mistake, and we are striving to stop it from happening again."

Economic Arrangements and Military Sales

The discussion also highlighted promised Saudi Arabian spending in the US, initially billed at six hundred billion dollars, but potentially expanded to $1 trillion.

Trump announced his plan to supply advanced F-35 planes to Riyadh, in spite of reservations by Israeli officials as well as US intelligence.

The pair additionally revealed talks about a prospective agreement for the kingdom to establish ties with Israel conditional on a two-state solution.

Regional Tensions and Challenges

The potential fighter jet deal has raised anxiety among Israeli officials, which currently possesses the F-35 locally.

American spy agencies have expressed concern because of Riyadh's strong military cooperation with the Chinese, bringing up concerns over security breaches.

However, the former president stated that Saudi Arabia deserves comparable high-grade planes as Israel, citing their role as "reliable friends" of the United States.

Additional Deals

In addition to weapons sales, administration representatives stated hopes for massive Saudi investment in the US AI industry, as well as deeper partnership in civil nuclear power development.

"We are pleased to state that we will raise that $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion," Prince Mohammed declared.

Diplomatic Issues

The Trump team is also seeking an atomic and defense cooperation agreement with Riyadh, that the current government previously attempted but failed to achieve.

However, the ongoing situation, such as the Hamas attack followed by ensuing operations in Gaza, have complicated the prospects of such a deal.

"After October 7, I think the cost for the kingdom to commit to diplomatic ties with the Israelis has risen significantly," an ex- peace envoy remarked.

Future Talks

"We want to be part the Abraham Accords, however we also want to guarantee a clear path toward Palestinian statehood," the crown prince stated.

Trump concurred, stating, "We conducted an excellent talk on the Abraham Accords. We spoke about potential solutions."

"We talked about numerous issues briefly. We will continue more details," he added. "However, I believe you have a very good feeling of the agreements."

Criticism Over Commercial Links

The visit further contentious over alleged overlap involving Trump's relatives commercial ventures with Middle Eastern states.

The former president rejected the possibility of conflict of interest, claiming he has "withdrawn from his enterprises" and committed "all his efforts" to governing.

"I am not connected to do with my family's enterprises," he said. "Their actions is permissible. They operate globally. They've done very little with Riyadh, truthfully. I believe opportunities exist. Whatever they have undertaken has been positive."