In unusual statement disputing the CIA and filled with exclamation points, Trump backs Saudi ruler after Khashoggi killing
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
President Donald Trump, in exclamation point-filled formal presidential statement, said Tuesday that his administration would stand by Saudi Arabia's rulers and take no actions against them over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In the extraordinary statement, which featured six exclamation points from the president, Trump called the "crime" against Khashoggi "terrible" and "one that our country does not condone."
But he again stopped well short of pointing blame at Saudi Arabia — despite NBC News and other reports last week that the CIA concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing — and cast questions over who killed the journalist.
"Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event — maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said in the statement, which featured a subheading that read "America First!"
"That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi," he continued. "In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."
Later Tuesday, Trump told reporters that the U.S. relationship with Saudia Arabia and the fallout over Khashoggi's murder was "a shame, but it is what it is." He also said he would be willing to meet with the crown prince at next week's G-20 summit in Argentina.
"I don’t know that he’s gonna be there, but if he is, I will," Trump said.
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So it looks to me like Trump has put a dollar amount on American values.
"Trump has put a dollar amount on American values."
Any no other president ever has? We've been trading with countries with terrible human rights violations for a long time. It's a little too late to get righteous about it now.
After a resident of the USA was murdered by them? No.
Trump, the great 'negotiator' and 'law and order' guy, kowtowed to Saudi Arabian assassins and spouted LIES to bolster his groveling.
I was wondering who would be the first to post whataboutism. You won Rmando.
This one actually involved a congressman from Georgia:
And it didn't lead to Reagan refusing to deal with Soviets.
"Trump, the great 'negotiator' and 'law and order' guy, kowtowed to Saudi Arabian assassins and spouted LIES to bolster his groveling."
And Obama skulked away like a whipped cur with his tail between his legs after Assad crossed his red line. What's your point?
Again with the whataboutism and FALSE whataboutism at that.
Y'all don't seem to have anything else nowadays.
I made my point clear in my first two comments. READ MORE CAREFULLY.
Nothing false about it. And not a Whataboutism either. Just putting things in context.
Prove it then. Post a link.
It would behoove you to review the definition of whataboutism. Perhaps then even you would understand that your comment does indeed qualify.
There is NO applicable context for Trump SELLING our foreign policy and values for fabricated arms deals...not to mention ignoring the CIA and believing the Saudis.
Wrong, and you know it.
Yet still a utter false equivalency. Try harder.
You know your link from the Atlantic doesn't prove anything. All it does is bluster and equivocate. Trump had no problem bombing Syria with Congressional approval. That article makes Obama look like a wannabe tough guy who comes up with an excuse when he gets called out. "I'd fight you but I can't find anybody to hold my coat..."
I don't care what the link says, it proves you WRONG. Deal with it.
One needs cogency to recognize it.
BTFW, I see that you failed to answer the questions I posed about your ridiculous posit.
Dulay, this is unclear. Wally never made a post prior to that one. Who are you talking to?
I didn't say it was a prior post.
"I don't care what the link says, it proves you WRONG."
Ummmm..... Contradiction much???
And unless you have a link that shows Obama attacking Syria for crossing the red line, it doesn't prove a thing.
Actually, unless you have a link that shows Obama stating that he would attack Syria for crossing the red line you haven't a leg to stand on.
Obama drew a red line. That means severe and swift retaliation which any non partisan person understands to mean a military response. Obamas refusal to deal with real threats appropriately is what made his foreign policy the weakest since Jimmy Carters.
Actually, any non partisan person understands that they should hold politicians responsible for what they ACTUALLY say rather than for what they want to hear...
Eh, he is just the first to make no bones about it. The US has ALWAYS done this.
I think it would be more accurate to say that he is one of the few who did so for PERSONAL PROFIT. Cheney also comes to mind.
Trump and his supporters have Khashoggi's blood on their hands.
Yeah, because Trump doesnt immediately declare WW3 and turn Saudi Arabia into a smoking crater over one death then he has blood on his hands. Makes perfect sense.
Who suggested that? Oh, no one.
Haven't conservatives been saying we should do that to the entire region for years? What changed?
Murder is ok as long as you are rich. That's the message trump is sending.
Can nobody rid us of that vile and vulgar man? Come on Mueller! Pull the plug...
You are going to be SO disappointed when Mueller finally turns in his report- which we won't even get to see most of anyway.
Probably not, now that trump has installed his partisan hack protector and hatch act violator.
No idea. Never heard of it.
On Thanksgiving day, trump gives thanks for Saudi Arabia. The same country that murdered a resident of the USA and provided 19 of the 21 9/11 hijackers. Not our troops, not out country, not our people, not our values, not our flag.....Saudi Arabia.
Fuck trump. He is an anti-American POS.
He also thanked himself for being so awesome, can't leave that out. A first class asshole no matter the scenario.
Fat Ass just wishes he could do what the Saudi Prince is doing. He is insanely jealous, and in debt.