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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Comment
Jodie Ginsberg

Trump shrugged off Khashoggi’s killing. This is a new low

President Trump Hosts The Crown Prince And Prime Minister Of Saudi Arabia At The White HouseWASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump during a dinner in the East Room at the White House on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is hosting the Crown Prince for meetings aimed at strengthening economic and defense ties, including the U.S. sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
‘The CIA found in a 2021 report that Prince Mohammed had orchestrated the kidnap and killing of the Washington Post columnist in 2018.’ Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

“Things happen.” Just two words. That’s all it took for Donald Trump to effectively dismiss what is probably the most infamous journalist killing of the last decade – and in so doing plumbed a new low in his contempt for journalists, for journalism – and for the truth.

The US president’s dismissal of the murder of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi came in a press conference with the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman – a man whom the CIA found in a 2021 report had orchestrated the kidnap and killing of the Washington Post columnist in 2018. (Prince Mohammed has denied involvement.)

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