In a stunning display of moral bankruptcy, President Trump has absolved Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of all culpability in the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Oval Office meeting between the two men was more than just a courtesy call - it was a tacit endorsement of the prince's alleged role in the gruesome assassination.
Trump's dismissive attitude towards Khashoggi's death is particularly galling, given that bin Salman has been linked to the journalist's murder through CIA assessments and Turkish investigations. The president's flippant remarks about the $600 billion investment Saudi Arabia is making in the US seem laughable when juxtaposed with the gravity of the crime.
The prince's own response was more measured, if not entirely convincing. He called Khashoggi's killing a "painful mistake" and claimed that his regime has taken steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, Trump's decision to overlook this obvious fact seems to suggest that he is more interested in the financial benefits of the Saudi-US alliance than in holding those responsible for Khashoggi's death accountable.
This latest development is a stark reminder of Trump's warped priorities and his willingness to compromise on core American values in pursuit of personal or political gain. His statement, "Things happen," rings hollow when juxtaposed with the CIA assessment that bin Salman was directly involved in Khashoggi's murder.
Trump's history on this issue is checkered at best. In 2018, he issued a statement supporting bin Salman despite acknowledging that it could be possible that the crown prince had knowledge of the plot to kill Khashoggi. This lack of urgency and conviction has created a sense of impunity around high-profile assassinations and human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.
The implications of this move are far-reaching and disturbing. If Trump is willing to grant immunity to a man accused of ordering a murder, what does that say about the state of American law enforcement? The US government's willingness to shield bin Salman from accountability could embolden other authoritarian leaders around the world, creating a culture of impunity and violence.
Make no mistake - this moment in American history represents a turning point. If we allow Trump's decision to normalize the idea that getting away with murder is a measure of political power, we risk eroding the foundations of our constitutional republic.
Trump's dismissive attitude towards Khashoggi's death is particularly galling, given that bin Salman has been linked to the journalist's murder through CIA assessments and Turkish investigations. The president's flippant remarks about the $600 billion investment Saudi Arabia is making in the US seem laughable when juxtaposed with the gravity of the crime.
The prince's own response was more measured, if not entirely convincing. He called Khashoggi's killing a "painful mistake" and claimed that his regime has taken steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, Trump's decision to overlook this obvious fact seems to suggest that he is more interested in the financial benefits of the Saudi-US alliance than in holding those responsible for Khashoggi's death accountable.
This latest development is a stark reminder of Trump's warped priorities and his willingness to compromise on core American values in pursuit of personal or political gain. His statement, "Things happen," rings hollow when juxtaposed with the CIA assessment that bin Salman was directly involved in Khashoggi's murder.
Trump's history on this issue is checkered at best. In 2018, he issued a statement supporting bin Salman despite acknowledging that it could be possible that the crown prince had knowledge of the plot to kill Khashoggi. This lack of urgency and conviction has created a sense of impunity around high-profile assassinations and human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia.
The implications of this move are far-reaching and disturbing. If Trump is willing to grant immunity to a man accused of ordering a murder, what does that say about the state of American law enforcement? The US government's willingness to shield bin Salman from accountability could embolden other authoritarian leaders around the world, creating a culture of impunity and violence.
Make no mistake - this moment in American history represents a turning point. If we allow Trump's decision to normalize the idea that getting away with murder is a measure of political power, we risk eroding the foundations of our constitutional republic.
$600b investment =/= justice his flippant remarks about the cash & politics are straight outta a bad movie script "Things happen" yeah no kidding mr president - things like people getting killed by ppl u're best buds with 
. And can we talk about the whole "things happen" thing? Like, no, things don't just happen when someone gets murdered in cold blood 
. There are always accountability and justice.
. He's been saying this guy was probably involved for years, but now he just brushes it off? What a total cop-out 
. The fact that the CIA said bin Salman was directly involved is like, a pretty solid piece of evidence if you ask me 
.
. It's like, what's next? Are we gonna start giving immunity to dictators and human rights abusers left and right? No thanks 
. This country was founded on some pretty strong values, and this decision just throws all that out the window 
.
. Trump's willingness to let Saudi Arabia off the hook for Jamal Khashoggi's murder is unbelievable. I mean, $600 billion in investment and he just shrugs it off? It's like he doesn't even care about American values anymore. The CIA's assessment was clear: bin Salman was involved in the murder. Trump's "things happen" attitude is so condescending 
. This move sets a bad precedent and emboldens authoritarian leaders worldwide. We're basically telling them it's okay to get away with murder if they've got the right connections 
.
america is literally living in a cartoon where crime doesn't pay, except for the ones who are connected to trump. his priorities are straight outta game of thrones - 'what does it cost to do business?' 
I'm really disappointed in Trump's actions towards Saudi Arabia. I mean, think about it - $600 billion and he just shrugs off Khashoggi's murder? 
That doesn't seem like a good deal to me. And the fact that bin Salman is basically getting a free pass for something so serious... it just shows how much Trump cares about human rights, I guess. 
I'm also worried about what this means for the US and its values. If we start letting leaders get away with murder, then where do we draw the line? It's like, I get that politics can be complicated, but come on, a $600 billion deal isn't worth ignoring human rights abuses. 
. This move is all about Trump putting his own interests ahead of what's right, and that's super concerning 
It's a really dark spot for American values and our justice system.
I mean, come on... President Trump is basically saying "meh" about Jamal Khashoggi's brutal murder and just wants to make a deal with Saudi Arabia for their cash 
And what really gets me is how this whole thing feels so calculated and cynical. Like he's more interested in maintaining the status quo with Saudi Arabia than actually standing up for American values. It's just so frustrating! 
... it's not like they're buying influence or something (although, tbh, it kinda feels like that)... anyway, this whole thing is super disturbing 
... if trump can let bin Salman get away with potentially ordering a murder, what does that say about our justice system? 