U.S. President Donald Trump got into a tense moment with a reporter on Tuesday after she raised a sensitive question during a joint press briefing with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
The exchange took place at the White House shortly after the Crown Prince received an official welcome. During the briefing, an ABC News correspondent asked MBS about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia’s alleged involvement in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
She referred to earlier U.S. intelligence findings that suggested the Crown Prince had approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death. The atmosphere shifted immediately. Before she could finish, Trump interrupted, asked for her identity, and called ABC News “fake news.” “ABC is fake news. But I’ll answer your question,” Trump said.
He also cautioned the reporter against trying to “embarrass” his guest. “You cannot humiliate our guest by asking such a question,” he added.
MBS Responds on 9/11 and Khashoggi Case
MBS then stepped forward to address the question himself. He called the 9/11 attacks a “deeply painful chapter,” noting that both the United States and Saudi Arabia were affected. He said Osama bin Laden had deliberately used Saudi nationals to damage relations between the two countries.
On the Khashoggi case, MBS said it was a serious mistake. “It is tragic when any person is killed. We conducted our investigation. Eight people are in prison, and such a mistake will not happen again,” he said.
Background on Khashoggi Murder and Diplomatic Context
Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. Turkish investigators later released audio recordings capturing his struggle with Saudi agents, his killing, and the sound of a bone saw believed to have been used to dismember his body.
MBS noted that this visit to the United States is his first since the Khashoggi incident and expressed hope that the trip would help strengthen U.S.–Saudi relations. The brief clash underscored how quickly sensitive issues can heighten tensions during high-level diplomatic appearances in Washington.
