During a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Donald Trump deflected questions regarding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, stating that the Crown Prince knew nothing about it and that reporters should not "embarrass our guest." Trump praised bin Salman's performance and dismissed Khashoggi as a controversial figure, asserting that "things happen." In a separate development, Congress passed a bill requiring the release of all unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which Trump has pledged to sign. Government watchdog groups criticized Trump's comments on Khashoggi and his family's business dealings in Saudi Arabia, including plans for Trump Plaza and Trump Tower in Jeddah, calling them a conflict of interest, which Trump denied.
Survivors of Epstein's abuse rallied outside the Capitol, expressing their exhaustion and urging Trump to depoliticize the issue. Cristiano Ronaldo also attended the White House on the same day as the Crown Prince.
The Epstein files bill passed the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, overcoming previous opposition from Trump and Republican leadership. Bin Salman also responded to the reporter's question about Khashoggi, expressing pain for the 9/11 families but focusing on a narrative that Saudi Arabia was used by Bin Laden to damage US-Saudi relations.
