Trump defends Saudi prince in new interview, rekindling outrage over Khashoggi killing
On a chilly morning outside UND’s Memorial Union, students scrolled headlines between classes as a familiar foreign‑policy debate resurfaced. In a newly publicized interview this week, former President Donald Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reiterating arguments he has made since his presidency that prioritize the U.S.–Saudi partnership and energy stability. Those themes were central to Trump’s 2018 statement “Standing with Saudi Arabia,” which discounted punitive measures despite global condemnation, according to the archived White House release from November 2018.
Trump’s renewed defense comes against a record established by U.S. intelligence and U.N. investigators. A declassified assessment by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in 2021 said it assessed that the crown prince approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi, citing control over Saudi security services and the involvement of key advisers. A U.N. inquiry led by then–special rapporteur Agnès Callamard concluded in 2019 that Khashoggi’s death was a “deliberate, premeditated execution” for which the state bore responsibility.
How the Khashoggi case unfolded
Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and Washington Post columnist, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018, to obtain paperwork for his forthcoming marriage and never re‑emerged, according to Turkish authorities and contemporaneous reporting. Turkish investigators alleged a Saudi team was dispatched to Istanbul and carried out the killing inside the consulate; Khashoggi’s remains have not been found.
International investigations followed. The U.N. fact‑finding report in 2019 described “sophisticated planning” and urged accountability measures, while the U.S. intelligence community later assessed the crown prince’s approval of the operation in its 2021 declassified summary. In response, the Biden administration announced the “Khashoggi Ban,” a visa‑restriction policy targeting individuals involved in serious extraterritorial counter‑dissident activities, according to the U.S. State Department.
Why this matters for U.S.–Saudi relations
Trump’s new remarks signal continuity with his earlier framing of Riyadh as a critical security and energy partner, a stance that could shape future policy debates if echoed by other U.S. leaders. Saudi Arabia remains a major purchaser of U.S. defense equipment, and arms transfers are subject to congressional review under the Arms Export Control Act, according to a Congressional Research Service overview of the process. Comments that minimize accountability could stiffen resistance among lawmakers who want conditions on arms sales, or, conversely, embolden advocates for unconditioned cooperation if they see strategic benefits outweighing rights concerns.
Energy is the other lever. Saudi decisions within the OPEC+ grouping influence global oil supply and pricing; messaging from prominent U.S. figures can be read in Riyadh as a cue about Washington’s appetite for closer coordination. That, in turn, feeds into gasoline prices and shipping costs that ripple through household budgets and local businesses across the Upper Midwest.
Local impact: What it means for Grand Forks and North Dakota
Fuel costs: Any perception of a warmer U.S.–Saudi relationship can affect oil market sentiment. North Dakotans—especially commuters, UND students driving home on weekends, and city departments responsible for snow removal—feel changes at the pump quickly. Track averages via AAA’s North Dakota dashboard for week‑to‑week moves.
Defense and security: While Grand Forks Air Force Base does not oversee Middle East policy, U.S.–Saudi defense ties can influence broader Department of Defense priorities. For local context or media queries, Grand Forks AFB Public Affairs maintains updates and contact information.
University community: Policy turbulence around Saudi relations sometimes spills into visa policy discourse. International students and scholars with questions can contact UND’s International Student & Scholar Services for current guidance.
Business outlook: Energy‑linked freight costs and export pricing matter for area manufacturers and ag shippers. The Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce offers policy briefings and can connect members with trade resources as conditions change.
Voices and evidence
U.S. intelligence community: “We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” the ODNI wrote in a declassified 2021 assessment.
U.N. accountability findings: The U.N. special rapporteur’s 2019 investigation called the killing an “extrajudicial execution” and urged sanctions targeting the crown prince’s personal assets unless he could demonstrate non‑involvement.
Trump’s prior stance: In November 2018, Trump argued the United States would “stand with Saudi Arabia” to protect U.S. interests in the Middle East and stabilize energy markets, according to the archived White House statement. In comments reported in 2020 from interviews with journalist Bob Woodward, Trump said he had “saved his [the crown prince’s] ass,” underscoring his view of the relationship’s strategic value.
Saudi government position: Saudi officials have denied that the crown prince ordered the killing, maintaining that those responsible were prosecuted domestically, according to statements from the Saudi Embassy in Washington.
Human rights advocates: Organizations including Human Rights Watch have argued that accountability remains incomplete and that high‑level officials have not faced credible, transparent justice.
What’s next for the Khashoggi case and policy
On the legal front, the United States has already imposed visa restrictions and sanctioned some individuals implicated in the killing, while courts in Saudi Arabia announced convictions that rights groups criticized as lacking transparency. In the United States, future arms‑transfer notifications to Saudi Arabia would trigger a 30‑day congressional review window under the Arms Export Control Act; any move to condition or block sales would offer an early test of where a bipartisan majority stands.
Diplomatically, the State Department’s posture will continue to balance human‑rights concerns with security and energy interests. Signals from Riyadh on oil production, as well as any new U.S. sanctions or visa actions under the “Khashoggi Ban,” will be key markers of direction.
What to Watch
Congressional reaction to any forthcoming U.S. arms‑sale notifications to Saudi Arabia—especially conditions tied to human rights—will indicate whether Trump‑aligned arguments are gaining traction.
Oil‑market moves after major OPEC+ announcements remain the fastest way this debate reaches wallets in the Red River Valley; monitor AAA’s North Dakota gas‑price trends for local impact.
UND and Grand Forks institutions are not direct actors in this policy, but campus and base officials say they will track federal guidance and brief stakeholders as needed.
Resources:
ODNI declassified assessment on Khashoggi (2021)
U.N. special rapporteur press release and report summary (2019)
Archived White House statement: “Standing with Saudi Arabia” (2018)
State Department: The “Khashoggi Ban” visa restriction policy (2021)
CRS explainer: Congressional review of U.S. arms sales
Saudi Embassy statement on the case
Human Rights Watch backgrounder
AAA gas prices in North Dakota
UND International Student & Scholar Services
Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce
