Irish Daily Mirror

Donald’s love of money Trumps justice for Jamal

- Follow him on Twitter @chrisbuckt­in

They say anything in America can be bought. Whether it be justice (ask OJ), citizenshi­p, or driving solo in a carpool lane, nothing is off limits.

However, now under the leadership of Donald Trump, the entire country has just been sold – sold out.

Despite overwhelmi­ng evidence, a constant string of lies and the CIA’S conclusion that Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s death, the US President has said he stands by Saudi Arabia.

Ever since the brutal murder inside the Middle East country’s consulate in Istanbul last month, the White House has been struggling to accept the universal belief of who was behind the killing.

But despite recordings capturing Khashoggi’s last moments and his own intelligen­ce agency’s report, Trump on Tuesday declared his unswerving loyalty.

The CIA has determined bin Salman not only knew about the killing, but he ordered it.

For the agency’s ultimate boss it was still not enough.

In an exclamatio­n point-filled formal presidenti­al statement, Trump said: “Our intelligen­ce agencies continue to assess all informatio­n, but it could very well be the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t. That being said, we may never know all of the facts surroundin­g the murder of Mr Jamal Khashoggi.”

Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t? This from a President of the United States.

Can you imagine if he had been in charge on December 7, 1941?

“Emperor Hirohito and I have a great relationsh­ip.

“I really like him, and I think he really likes me. Sure, something happened at Pearl

Harbour. Maybe the Japanese bombed it... but maybe they didn’t.”

Trump went further though in his defence of the Saudis.

He said: “In any case, our relationsh­ip is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. 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.” Trump’s insistence of not taking substantiv­e action against the Saudis, who funded the 9/11 terror attack, came just days after the President admitted he had not listened to an audio tape provided by the Turkish government of Khashoggi’s murder, because it was too gruesome.

So his decision not to take action against the Saudis is not entirely unexpected.

By definition, it’s a decision not based on morality but money, and it would have been insane to expect Trump to consider anything else given he has no moral compass with which to be guided.

It was ironic Trump should issue his statement shortly before he took part in the annual White House Thanksgivi­ng turkey pardoning.

The real turkey in all of this is the President himself. Salman, Putin, Jong-un... Trump has proven again he loves his despots.

The president has proven once again his love for a despot leader

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