A Controversial White House Visit
In a striking Oval Office meeting that highlighted the complex nature of international diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump offered a vigorous defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The encounter on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, marked the Saudi de facto ruler's first White House visit in over seven years, representing a significant step in his campaign to rehabilitate his global image.
With cameras recording the moment, Trump directly contradicted the assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies, stating that the crown prince knew nothing about the operation that led to Khashoggi's death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. "A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about, whether you like him or didn't like him," Trump told reporters, with bin Salman seated beside him. "Things happened, but he knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that."
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships
The controversial meeting yielded substantial diplomatic and economic outcomes that underscored the strengthening alliance between the world's largest economy and its top oil exporter. President Trump announced he was designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally, a status that provides military and economic privileges without formal security commitments.
The two nations revealed several landmark agreements covering multiple sectors:
- A Strategic Defense Agreement to enhance Middle East deterrence
- Approval for future deliveries of F-35 fighter jets
- A Saudi commitment to purchase 300 American tanks
- Civil nuclear energy cooperation
- Artificial intelligence collaboration
- Critical minerals framework
The potential sale of F-35 jets to Riyadh represents a significant policy shift, as Israel has previously been the only Middle Eastern nation with access to these advanced aircraft. This development could potentially alter the regional military balance and test Washington's commitment to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge.
Diverging Narratives and Human Rights Concerns
While Trump praised the crown prince for doing an "incredible" job on human rights, the president's comments drew sharp criticism from human rights advocates and Khashoggi's widow. Hanan Elatr Khashoggi told Reuters in an interview that nothing could "justify just a horrible crime... because he's controversial or he's unliked by someone." She expressed her wish that Trump would meet with her to introduce him to the "real Jamal."
For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described hearing about Khashoggi's death as "painful" and characterized the incident as a "huge mistake." He asserted that his government had "did all the right steps of investigation" and had "improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that."
The visit began with considerable ceremony on the White House South Lawn, featuring a military honor guard, cannon salute, and flyover by U.S. warplanes. The crown prince used the occasion to announce an increase in Saudi investment pledges to the United States, raising the commitment to $1 trillion from the previous $600 billion pledge made during Trump's May visit to Saudi Arabia, though he provided no specific timeline or details.
The discussions also touched on Middle East peace prospects, with Trump reporting a "positive response" about potential Saudi normalization with Israel. However, the crown prince maintained his position that joining the Abraham Accords would require Israel to provide a path to Palestinian statehood, a condition Israel has consistently refused.
As the White House hosted a formal black-tie dinner for the Saudi delegation, the event symbolized how the international uproar surrounding Khashoggi's murder has gradually faded in favor of strategic and economic considerations, marking a high point for U.S.-Saudi relations that had suffered significantly following the journalist's killing.
