Trump Defends MBS Amid Khashoggi Fallout, Announces F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia

On November 18, 2025, at the White House in Washington, D.C., Donald Trump stood beside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and dismissed U.S. intelligence findings that linked the Saudi leader to the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a sharply worded public statement, Trump declared, "What he's done is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else." The moment—captured by reporters in the Oval Office at 1:17 PM EST—wasn’t just political theater. It was a deliberate reassertion of a foreign policy that prioritizes arms deals and regional alliances over human rights accountability. And it came with a bombshell: Trump announced he would sell Saudi Arabia F-35 fighter jets, a move that reignites global debate over U.S. arms exports to authoritarian regimes.

Seven Years in the Making

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s arrival at the White House marked his first visit to the United States since 2018, when he was branded a pariah after Khashoggi’s brutal killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. The U.S. intelligence community concluded then—and reaffirmed in subsequent reports—that MBS personally approved the operation that led to the journalist’s dismemberment. Since then, the Crown Prince has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate his image: courting tech investors, launching economic reforms, and positioning himself as a modernizer. But for many, the scars remain. The White House ceremony—complete with a U.S. Air Force flyover and a red carpet reception—felt less like a diplomatic welcome and more like a political reset.

"Things Happen"

When pressed at 1:52 PM EST by a reporter who asked if he knew about the intelligence linking him to Khashoggi’s murder, Trump responded: "He knew nothing about it, and we can leave it at that." The line was delivered with a dismissive wave, as if the weight of a journalist’s death could be brushed aside like dust. It echoed his 2018 stance, when he called the murder a "terrible thing" but insisted Saudi Arabia was too important to alienate. That calculus hasn’t changed. Behind closed doors, U.S. officials reportedly discussed a multi-billion-dollar arms package, including F-35s—the most advanced stealth fighter in the world. Selling them to Saudi Arabia would be a historic shift. The U.S. has long withheld the jets over human rights concerns, even under previous administrations. Now, Trump is signaling he’s willing to break that barrier.

The 9/11 Families’ Fury

Not everyone was watching from the press gallery. Outside the White House, a small but vocal group of 9/11 victims’ families held a silent protest. Many believe Saudi Arabia had indirect ties to the 2001 attacks, and several lawsuits have alleged that members of the Saudi royal family funneled money to al-Qaeda operatives. Their anger wasn’t just emotional—it was legal. One widow, speaking off-camera, told reporters: "We buried our husbands. He’s sitting in the Oval Office like a king. What message does that send?" Their outrage underscores a deeper fracture in American foreign policy: when do strategic interests override moral accountability?

Who Benefits?

The proposed F-35 sale isn’t just about geopolitics—it’s about money. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer, stands to earn billions. Defense contractors, aerospace unions, and congressional districts with defense plants all stand to gain. But the cost? Erosion of U.S. credibility on human rights. Human Rights Watch called the move "a betrayal of American values." The Washington Post, where Khashoggi was a contributing columnist, issued a rare editorial condemning the meeting: "A journalist’s murder cannot be sanitized by a handshake and a jet deal."

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia gains more than weapons. The visit signals global legitimacy. After years of isolation, MBS is being treated as a peer—not a pariah. He’s already secured billions in U.S. investment deals. Now, with fighter jets on the table, he’s eyeing nuclear cooperation, satellite tech, and even AI infrastructure. The U.S. is trading sovereignty for influence.

What Comes Next?

The State Department has not yet released formal details on the F-35 sale. But congressional oversight committees are already preparing hearings. Senators from both parties have signaled they may block the deal under the Arms Export Control Act, which requires the administration to certify that the recipient country doesn’t violate human rights. Trump, however, has made clear he’ll use his presidential authority to bypass Congress if needed. Meanwhile, the European Union and Canada are reportedly reconsidering their own arms deals with Riyadh. And in Turkey, where Khashoggi was killed, officials are warning of "serious consequences" for U.S.-Turkish relations.

The Legacy of a Journalist

Jamal Khashoggi’s death wasn’t just a crime—it was a symbol. He was a reformer who spoke truth to power, a man who believed Saudi Arabia could change. His last columns for The Washington Post were about freedom, silence, and the cost of complicity. His murder was meant to silence dissent. But it had the opposite effect. It sparked global protests, UN investigations, and a reckoning inside the Saudi royal family. Now, with Trump’s endorsement, that reckoning is being buried under a pile of jet fuel and defense contracts.