Quotes by Donald Trump on the Murder of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
#DonaldTrump 10/11/18: "❲If the Saudis murdered Jamal Khashoggi❳ there will be severe punishment." » #Trump 11/20/18: "We may never know all of the facts…The US intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia." Click To Tweet
Quotes by Donald Trump on the Murder of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
THEN
Oct 2018

“[If the Saudis murdered Khashoggi] I tell you what I don’t wanna do. Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, all these com– I don’t wanna hurt jobs. I don’t wanna lose an order like that. There are other ways of– punishing… There will be severe punishment.”
- Oct 11, 2018
CBS News, Oct 15, 2018
President Trump on Christine Blasey Ford, his relationships with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un and more
- Oct 18, 2018
New York Times, Oct 18, 2018
In Shift on Khashoggi Killing, Trump Edges Closer to Acknowledging a Saudi Role
#DonaldTrump 10/18/18: "❲If the Saudis murdered Jamal Khashoggi the consequences will be❳ very severe." » #Trump 11/20/18: "King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge." Click To Tweet
NOW
Oct 2018 - 2020

Oct 15, 2018 -
Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened “to our Saudi Arabian citizen.” He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2018
Oct 15, 2018 -
New York Times, Oct 15, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/us/politics/trump-saudi-king-journalist-khashoggi.htm
Oct 16, 2018 -
…during the call, and told me that he has already started, and will rapidly expand, a full and complete investigation into this matter. Answers will be forthcoming shortly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2018
“I spoke to the crown prince… He said he and his father knew nothing about it.… I spoke to the king yesterday, the crown prince, today wanting to know what was going on, what was happening, and he said very strongly that he and his father knew nothing about it but they are starting a major, they’ve already started a major investigation to find out. And so the answers will be forthcoming…
“When I spoke to the father, it just sounded to me like he felt like he did not do it. He did not know about it and it sounded like, you know, the concept of rogue killers. But I don’t know. I think the investigation will lead to an answer…
“Here we go again with, you know, you’re guilty until proven innocent. I don’t like that. We just went through that with Justice Kavanaugh. And he was innocent all the way… Hopefully they’ll get to an answer as to what happened. But I will say they were very strong in their denial about themselves knowing.”
Oct 17, 2018 -
Associated Press, Oct 17, 2018
Read the transcript of AP’s interview with President Trump
Oct 20, 2018 -
The Guardian, Oct 20, 2018
Donald Trump says he finds Saudi explanation of Khashoggi death 'credible'
Oct 24, 2018 -
The Guardian, Oct 24, 2018
Khashoggi death: Saudi prince may have been involved, Trump says
Oct 24, 2018 -
The Guardian, Oct 24, 2018
Khashoggi death: Saudi prince may have been involved, Trump says
“In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia… The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region.”
Nov 20, 2018 -
White House, Nov 20, 2018
Statement from President Donald J. Trump on Standing with Saudi Arabia
“Saudi Arabia is tremendously helpful in the Middle East… Israel would be in big trouble without Saudi Arabia. So what does that mean? Israel is going to leave? We want Israel to leave?…
“We have an ally that said they did not commit, at the top level — the Crown Prince, the King — they did not commit this atrocity And it’s an atrocity… But the fact is, they’ve been a very strong ally. They create tremendous wealth. They create, really, a tremendous number of jobs in their purchases. And very importantly, they keep the oil price down…
“Maybe the world should be held accountable, because the world is a vicious place.”
Nov 22, 2018 -
White House, Nov 22, 2018
Thanksgiving Teleconference with Members of the Military
Nov 27, 2018 -
Washington Post, Nov 27, 2018
Trump stands by Saudi crown prince in Khashoggi killing
June 21, 2019 -
ABC News, June 24, 2019
Trump dismisses Khashoggi investigation, Pompeo doesn't raise it in Saudi meeting
June 23, 2019 -
NBC News, June 23, 2019
President Trump's full, unedited interview with Meet the Press
“He will always say that he didn’t do it. He says that to everybody, and frankly I’m happy that he says that. But he will say that to you, he will say that to Congress, and he will say that to everybody. He’s never said he did do it… He says very strongly that he didn’t do it. Bob, they spent $400 billion over a fairly short period of time.”
Jan 22, 2020 -
Bob Woodward (via Rolling Stone), Sept 10, 2020
'I saved his a--': Trump boasted that he protected Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Jamal Khashoggi's brutal murder, Woodward's new book says
Context
On November 16, 2018, the CIA reportedly concluded with “high confidence” that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, contradicting claims by the Saudi government that he was not involved.1Washington Post, Nov 16, 2018
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
retrieved 1/30/19
On November 27, 2018, the Washington Post reported that the CIA has presented intelligence to Trump Administration officials and to Republican and Democratic lawmakers their analysis pointing to Mohammad bin Salman’s direct involvement in Khashoggi‘s murder.2Washington Post, Nov 27, 2018
Trump stands by Saudi crown prince in Khashoggi killing
retrieved 1/30/19
An in-depth account of Khashoggi’s murder is here:
The Story of Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder and How the World Looked the Other Way
“Places like Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for us. We protect them.”
– Donald Trump, July 16, 20083Howard Stern Show (via Factbase), July 16, 2008
Interview: Donald Trump on The Howard Stern Show – July 16, 2008
retrieved 2/13/19
#DonaldTrump 10/18/18: "❲If the Saudis murdered Jamal Khashoggi the consequences will be❳ very severe." » #Trump 11/22/20: "❲Mohammad bin Salman❳ will always say that he didn’t do it...and frankly I’m happy that he says that." Click To Tweet