Trump contradicts CIA that Saudi prince ordered killing

PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIA’s assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency “had feelings” but did not firmly place blame for the death.

Trump, in defiant re- marks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing.

“He denies it vehemently,” Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that “maybe he did, maybe he didn’t.”

“I hate the crime. ... I hate the coverup. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do,” Trump said.

Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame.

“Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place,” the president said.

He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent Thursday t hat days, “we wouldn’t they would halt fube able to have ture arms exports anyone for an ally.” to Saudi Arabia,

Trump’s refollowing a similar marks came after decision by neighhe held a conferboring Germany ence call with U.S. earlier this month. military officers Denmark’s ban overseas, during Khashoggi includes goods which he repeatedly that can be used both for praised his administration military and civilian purand sought to draw the poses but is still less expanofficers into discussions of sive than the German meadomestic policy. sures, which also included

Meanwhile, Denmark sales that had already been and Finland announced approved.

While the Nordic countries are tiny arms equipment exporters in comparison with bigger players such as the United States, Britain or France, their decision will probably exacerbate concerns within the European arms industry of a growing anti-Saudi consensus in the European Union and beyond.

Apart from the killing of Khashoggi, a Saudi-led coalition has been accused of human rights violations in Yemen since 2015.