Trump Downplays Khashoggi Murder: ‘Things Happen’ Remark Sparks Outrage

In a stunning moment during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington, US President Donald Trump appeared to downplay the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, dismissing the killing with a casual “things happen” — a remark that drew immediate comparisons to Sam Pitroda’s infamous “hua toh hua” comment.

Sitting beside MBS in the White House, Trump brushed aside the CIA’s 2018 assessment, made during his own first administration, which concluded that the Crown Prince personally approved Khashoggi’s brutal murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and government critic, was killed and dismembered with a bone saw — an event that deeply fractured US–Saudi relations.

But Trump, now in his second tenure, seemed unbothered.

“You’re mentioning someone extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman,” Trump told reporters. “Whether you liked him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he (MBS) knew nothing about it.”

The comment stunned journalists in the room. Trump even scolded one reporter for raising the issue in front of the Saudi leader. “You don’t have to embarrass our guest,” he snapped.

The Crown Prince, whose trip had the look and feel of a state visit despite not being one, said Saudi Arabia had taken “all the right steps” to investigate the “painful” incident.

A COMPLETE NARRATIVE REVERSAL

Trump’s tone marked a sharp departure from the intense pressure his first administration faced after the killing. While the US sanctioned several Saudi officials in 2021, the Biden administration did not directly target MBS, citing geopolitical and security considerations. Now, Trump’s 2025 remarks openly contradict US intelligence findings.

Khashoggi has never been found. His murder remains one of the most controversial diplomatic ruptures in recent history.

BACKLASH ERUPTS ONLINE

Trump’s remarks unleashed a wave of criticism across social media and policy circles.

Political commentator Richard Angwin wrote:
“Trump’s Oval Office whitewash of Khashoggi’s brutal murder proves he is not just a liar, but a gutless enabler of butchers who threaten the free press.”

Geopolitical analyst Pyotr Kurzin suggested Trump’s indulgence was strategic:
“All to ensure China doesn’t get more influence.”

Others argued the defence was rooted in business ties, citing massive Saudi investments in Trump-linked ventures, including a $2 billion investment in Jared Kushner’s firm.

Journalist Bob Woodward resurfaced his own past allegation, tweeting that Trump once told him in an interview: “I saved his a**.”

Trump’s remarks, delivered with nonchalance and complete disregard for the CIA's conclusions, have reopened long-standing debates over human rights, power politics, and the Trump–MBS relationship — raising fresh concerns about transparency and accountability.