Gulf News

Saudi crown prince gets Trump’s support

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US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he stood by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman in the controvers­y over the journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, despite pleas from US senators for Trump to take a stronger line.

Trump provided perhaps his most explicit show of support for the crown prince since Khashoggi’s death more than two months ago. “He’s the leader of Saudi Arabia. They’ve been a very good ally,” Trump said in an interview. Asked by Reuters if standing by the kingdom meant standing by the prince, Trump responded: “Well, at this moment, it certainly does.”

Trump again reiterated on Tuesday that the “crown prince vehemently denies” involvemen­t in the killing.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and other senators who have supported the US-Saudi alliance over the years have said that he should impose more sanctions after a first round targeted 17 Saudis for their alleged role in the killing.

Trump said he hoped senators would not propose stopping arms sales to the Saudis, adding he could abide by legislatio­n ending US support for the Saudiled war effort in Yemen.

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