Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, murdered by a Saudi hit squad, and his fiancée Hatice Cengiz (File)
Soon after Donald Trump issued his full endorsement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sweeping away the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, I spoke with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about the significance and what is next for US, Saudi Arabia, and the region.
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TrumpWatch, Day 670: Trump Backs Saudi Crown Prince Over Khashoggi Murder
We knew that Donald Trump was going to not only reassure but endorse Mohammed bin Salman and protect him from any retribution, because Trump said the priority is “business” and “jobs”, in other words, US arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
The story beyond this is that, while this is Trump’s language, there is a split in the Administration. The CIA believes Mohammed bin Salman ordered this murder, but the priority of the National Security Council under John Bolton is regime change in Iran.
