United States President Trump met Tuesday at the White House with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the royal’s first visit to Washington in more than seven years.

The meeting combined major investment announcements with controversial remarks from Trump, who minimized the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by saying that such events are simply “things that happen.” 

During the bilateral meeting, bin Salman announced that Saudi Arabia will increase its planned investments in U.S. companies from $600 billion to $1 trillion, expanding opportunities in technology, artificial intelligence, and energy.

He also expressed interest in purchasing advanced U.S. weaponry, including the state-of-the-art F-35 fighter jets. 

Trump praised the investment package and emphasized that he intends to support granting the kingdom access to top-tier American defense technology. “I will defend their access to the best military equipment we make,” he stated. 

The most contentious moment came when reporters questioned Trump about bin Salman’s alleged involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist who was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in their Istanbul consulate in 2018.

Criticism of Trump after his comments

Rather than criticize the crime, Trump downplayed it. “He was extremely controversial. People didn’t like that guy. Like it or not, things happen. And he —bin Salman— knew nothing about it. We’re not going to embarrass our guest,” he said. 

Human rights groups immediately condemned the remarks, though bin Salman addressed the killing by describing it as “a grave mistake.”

He insisted that Saudi Arabia has taken “all necessary steps” to investigate the case and prevent future abuses. “It is painful, and we are working to ensure it never happens again,” he said. 

Trump closed the meeting by stressing the strategic significance of the bilateral partnership. “You have to understand that he is a great ally,” he concluded, reaffirming the enduring —and often controversial— alliance between Washington and Riyadh.