This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/17/us/politics/trump-khashoggi-saudi-arabia.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| ‘We Were Told That He Did Not Play a Role’ in Khashoggi Killing, Trump Says of Saudi Crown Prince | ‘We Were Told That He Did Not Play a Role’ in Khashoggi Killing, Trump Says of Saudi Crown Prince |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President Trump demurred on Saturday about whether he would publicly hold the Saudi crown prince responsible for the killing of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, claiming he had not yet been shown the C.I.A. intelligence that concludes the prince ordered the assassination. | President Trump demurred on Saturday about whether he would publicly hold the Saudi crown prince responsible for the killing of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, claiming he had not yet been shown the C.I.A. intelligence that concludes the prince ordered the assassination. |
| “As of this moment, we were told that he did not play a role,” Mr. Trump said of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, as he spoke to reporters outside the White House before heading to California to meet with those affected by the wildfires that have devastated the state. “We’re going to have to find out what they say.” | “As of this moment, we were told that he did not play a role,” Mr. Trump said of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, as he spoke to reporters outside the White House before heading to California to meet with those affected by the wildfires that have devastated the state. “We’re going to have to find out what they say.” |
| “We haven’t been briefed yet,” Mr. Trump said. “The C.I.A. will be speaking to me today.” | “We haven’t been briefed yet,” Mr. Trump said. “The C.I.A. will be speaking to me today.” |
| The C.I.A. has concluded that the crown prince ordered the brutal killing of Mr. Khashoggi, according to American officials. Mr. Khashoggi was killed while visiting the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October to obtain paperwork he needed for his coming wedding. | The C.I.A. has concluded that the crown prince ordered the brutal killing of Mr. Khashoggi, according to American officials. Mr. Khashoggi was killed while visiting the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October to obtain paperwork he needed for his coming wedding. |
| [Watch our video about how the killing of Jamal Khashoggi unfolded.] | [Watch our video about how the killing of Jamal Khashoggi unfolded.] |
| Saudi Arabia has again shifted its account of how the crime was carried out, but has continued to deny that the prince knew in advance or had any involvement in the operation. | Saudi Arabia has again shifted its account of how the crime was carried out, but has continued to deny that the prince knew in advance or had any involvement in the operation. |
| Weeks ago, as the White House faced mounting pressure over its response to Mr. Khashoggi’s death, the president condemned the killing as a “bad original concept” that was “carried out poorly.” | Weeks ago, as the White House faced mounting pressure over its response to Mr. Khashoggi’s death, the president condemned the killing as a “bad original concept” that was “carried out poorly.” |
| But on Saturday, he sounded more sanguine, saying he was “taking a look” at the latest news and would be briefed by the C.I.A. while traveling to the West Coast. The president, who has proclaimed the prince the future of Saudi Arabia, defended the administration’s policy toward its longtime ally. | |
| “You know, we also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia,” Mr. Trump said. “They give us a lot of jobs and a lot of business and economic development. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development.” | “You know, we also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia,” Mr. Trump said. “They give us a lot of jobs and a lot of business and economic development. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development.” |
| Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, has cultivated a close relationship with the prince, and has pushed to maintain support for him. | Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, has cultivated a close relationship with the prince, and has pushed to maintain support for him. |
| Mr. Trump also suggested there could be a government shutdown over funding for the border wall he wants to build, saying it could be a “very good time” politically for that to occur. And he said he would keep troops stationed at the border “as long as necessary.” | Mr. Trump also suggested there could be a government shutdown over funding for the border wall he wants to build, saying it could be a “very good time” politically for that to occur. And he said he would keep troops stationed at the border “as long as necessary.” |
| In the weeks before the midterm elections, the president deployed more than 5,000 active-duty troops to the southern border against a caravan of Central American migrants that he described as an “invasion.” | In the weeks before the midterm elections, the president deployed more than 5,000 active-duty troops to the southern border against a caravan of Central American migrants that he described as an “invasion.” |
| The president mocked the immigrants, saying, “If they have such fear and such problems, and they hate their countries, why do we see all the flags being waved?” | The president mocked the immigrants, saying, “If they have such fear and such problems, and they hate their countries, why do we see all the flags being waved?” |
| He added, “This has nothing to do with asylum, it has to do with getting into the country illegally.” | He added, “This has nothing to do with asylum, it has to do with getting into the country illegally.” |