President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged heated words during an ABC News interview yesterday, discussing the ongoing controversy surrounding Jamal Khashoggi's murder. The 9/11 families' anger towards the White House visit by the crown prince boiled over as the conversation unfolded.
During the sit-down with Mary Bruce, a reporter from ABC News, Trump defended his administration's handling of the crisis and expressed concerns about 'over-sensitivity'. In contrast, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vehemently denied involvement in Khashoggi's murder, stating that it was not the work of the Saudi government.
The tension escalated when Khashoggi's family members confronted the pair about their lack of transparency regarding the case. "It is a very bad situation," Trump said during the exchange, adding that he believed there had been 'some miscommunication' between the US and Saudi Arabia over the matter.
Mohammed bin Salman rejected these claims, stating that the investigation was ongoing and insisted on the innocence of his countrymen. The prince also pointed to alleged US interference in Saudi affairs, sparking a heated debate between the two leaders.
The interview comes as many Americans still feel deeply troubled by the controversy surrounding Khashoggi's murder. Trump acknowledged this sentiment while urging calm, but critics argue that his administration has failed to provide adequate support for the journalist's family and victims' families.
This meeting will be watched closely in Washington as lawmakers begin debating a new resolution regarding 9/11-related legislation.
During the sit-down with Mary Bruce, a reporter from ABC News, Trump defended his administration's handling of the crisis and expressed concerns about 'over-sensitivity'. In contrast, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vehemently denied involvement in Khashoggi's murder, stating that it was not the work of the Saudi government.
The tension escalated when Khashoggi's family members confronted the pair about their lack of transparency regarding the case. "It is a very bad situation," Trump said during the exchange, adding that he believed there had been 'some miscommunication' between the US and Saudi Arabia over the matter.
Mohammed bin Salman rejected these claims, stating that the investigation was ongoing and insisted on the innocence of his countrymen. The prince also pointed to alleged US interference in Saudi affairs, sparking a heated debate between the two leaders.
The interview comes as many Americans still feel deeply troubled by the controversy surrounding Khashoggi's murder. Trump acknowledged this sentiment while urging calm, but critics argue that his administration has failed to provide adequate support for the journalist's family and victims' families.
This meeting will be watched closely in Washington as lawmakers begin debating a new resolution regarding 9/11-related legislation.
. And what's with all this drama about 9/11 families? Can't they just move on? The more they make a fuss, the more it'll just fuel the conspiracy theories. I mean, come on, let's not jump to conclusions here...
. Trump is being super insensitive and blaming others for not being transparent enough 
. I mean, can't they just be honest with us? The fact that his administration hasn't done enough to support the families of Jamal and all those other victims is just heartbreaking 
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. I mean, come on guys, if you're gonna deny involvement then own up to it or say nothing at all 
. This whole situation is a total mess and I'm just worried that we'll never get the justice Jamal and his family deserve 
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. Trump is just being totally clueless about how the American people feel on this whole Khashoggi thing 
. I mean, come on, 9/11 families' anger is not overreacting here - it's a serious matter that affects real lives 
. I don't trust a single word he's saying right now. And Trump's defense of him is just laughable 
. This whole thing is a mess, and I'm worried that it's going to get even worse before it gets better 
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. Until then, this whole thing is just going to continue to simmer in the background, waiting to boil over into something much bigger 
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I think it's quite telling that Trump would downplay the severity of Khashoggi's murder, labeling it as 'over-sensitivity', while Mohammed bin Salman flat out denied involvement 
. The fact that Trump expressed concerns about transparency and claimed there was 'some miscommunication' between the US and Saudi Arabia rings hollow given the administration's own foot-dragging on this issue 
. What's more, the prince's accusation of US interference in Saudi affairs feels like a classic deflect-and-divert tactic 
. It's clear that Trump is more interested in salvaging diplomatic relations with Riyadh than holding his own administration accountable for its handling of the crisis 
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. I think Trump and the Saudi government need to calm down and stop playing dumb about what really happened. It's been years now, and we all know that there are no good guys here. The prince just kept on denying it, but at the same time, he was kinda blaming the US for not helping them out more... like, come on! We get it, you're upset, but can't you both just try to be a little more honest with each other? 
It's really frustrating when people in power start to make this whole thing about "over-sensitivity" and trying to shift the blame. Just stop the drama, guys... we all want justice for Jamal 
