President Donald Trump publicly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, describing Khashoggi as 'extremely controversial' and suggesting that questions about the murder were meant to embarrass his guest. Trump stated that MBS 'knew nothing about it' and dismissed allegations of his involvement, despite a CIA assessment indicating likely approval by the Crown Prince. During his first visit to Washington since the killing, MBS expressed that the incident was 'a huge mistake' and emphasized that Saudi Arabia has taken 'all the right steps' in its investigation. The incident remains a point of diplomatic tension, with critics highlighting MBS’s control over decision-making and his support for silencing dissidents abroad.