Former US Vice President Mike Pence has publicly condemned Donald Trump's defence of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince following the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, marking a significant break between the former running mates.
London speech reveals deepening rift
During an address at the prestigious Chatham House think tank in London, Pence directly addressed Trump's controversial remarks about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The CIA has concluded that Bin Salman was responsible for ordering the "vicious murder and dismemberment" of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
When questioned about Trump's assertion that the Crown Prince "knew nothing" about the killing, Pence stated unequivocally: "I would not have said that." He further elaborated that while he couldn't discuss classified intelligence he'd been exposed to, he would not have made such a statement defending the Saudi leader.
Oval Office encounter sparks outrage
The criticism comes after Trump hosted Mohammed Bin Salman at the White House for the first time since Khashoggi's murder, rolling out an extravagant welcome that included military jet flypasts and ceremonial trumpets. During their meeting in the Oval Office, Trump dismissed the journalist's killing with the phrase "things happen" and described Khashoggi as "controversial."
Pence suggested his approach would have differed significantly, telling reporters: "Had I been given the opportunity to be sitting in that right hand chair in front of the fireplace, the meeting would have gone a little different."
The Khashoggi murder: What happened
Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based journalist for the Washington Post, entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 to obtain marriage documents. Evidence indicates he was murdered inside the building and dismembered with a bone saw.
Turkish authorities uncovered substantial evidence of the killing and subsequent tampering. The United Nations later determined the Saudi state was responsible for Khashoggi's "premeditated extrajudicial execution."
When confronted about the murder during the Oval Office meeting, Trump reportedly became hostile toward journalists, calling one question "insubordinate" and threatening to revoke broadcaster ABC's licence.
While acknowledging the importance of the US-Saudi relationship, Pence's comments represent one of his most direct public challenges to Trump's foreign policy approach since leaving office. The former vice president is currently touring the United Kingdom, where he's been vocal about his differing perspective on international diplomacy.
