President Donald Trump engaged in a conversation with the Saudi crown prince regarding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which was described as “shocking and disturbing.” Pressure is mounting on the White House to release the transcript of the call following revelations from a former national security adviser who expressed concerns during a congressional hearing. Despite US intelligence agencies concluding that Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi’s killing, President Trump publicly absolved the crown prince of responsibility, a stance contradicted by Virginia congressman Eugene Vindman, a former National Security Council member who reviewed the call.
Vindman highlighted two specific calls from Trump’s interactions with foreign leaders that troubled him the most: the infamous conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leading to Trump’s first impeachment, and a separate call with Mohammed bin Salman after Khashoggi’s assassination. Vindman emphasized the importance of making the details of the latter call public for the benefit of the American people and the Khashoggi family, but the White House has not indicated whether the transcript will be disclosed.
In a controversial move, Trump welcomed Mohammed bin Salman back to Washington with grandeur despite the ongoing criticism surrounding the journalist’s murder. The lavish reception included a dinner attended by prominent figures such as Elon Musk, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and Bill Ackerman. Trump’s dismissive remarks about Khashoggi’s murder sparked outrage, with him downplaying the incident and defending the Saudi crown prince from scrutiny.
Amidst fresh scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest, Trump denied any wrongdoing regarding his family’s business ties with Saudi Arabia. Vindman expressed alarm over the enrichment the Trump family has reportedly gained over the years. The call under review is believed to have occurred around June 2019, with a White House statement at the time omitting any reference to Khashoggi despite the contentious nature of the conversation.
This latest controversy adds to Trump’s history of scrutinized calls, such as the 2019 conversation with Zelensky that led to his first impeachment. Vindman’s testimony sheds light on the intricate dynamics of Trump’s interactions with foreign leaders and the implications of such engagements.