Donald Trump is facing intensifying demands to publish a full transcript of what's being described as a 'shocking and disturbing' conversation he held with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concerning the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Security Adviser Sounds Alarm in Congress
The pressure escalated after Eugene Vindman, a former official on Trump's National Security Council, testified before Congress about his grave concerns. Vindman, a retired Army officer, stated he reviewed numerous calls between the former president and foreign leaders during his tenure, identifying two as particularly troubling.
The first was the now-infamous discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which led to Trump's first impeachment. 'The second was between President Trump and Mohammed bin Salman,' Vindman revealed, referring to a call that took place after Khashoggi's 2018 assassination.
Vindman has insisted that the contents of this call directly contradict Trump's public defence of the Crown Prince and must be made public, arguing that 'the American people and the Khashoggi family deserve to know what was said.' The White House has so far not commented on whether it will release the transcript.
A Lavish Welcome and Controversial Remarks
The renewed scrutiny comes as Trump recently welcomed the Saudi leader back to Washington with significant ceremony, including military pageantry and a procession. A lavish dinner attended by high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tim Cook followed.
However, Trump's public comments earlier that day caused widespread outrage. When questioned about Khashoggi—a US resident and Washington Post columnist who was murdered and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul—Trump dismissed the journalist as 'extremely controversial.'
'Things happen,' Trump stated, adding that the Crown Prince 'knew nothing about it.' This defence stands in stark opposition to the conclusion of US intelligence agencies, which found that Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the operation.
Business Ties and Lasting Fallout
The situation has also drawn fresh attention to the Trump family's extensive business interests in Saudi Arabia. Trump has denied any conflict of interest, despite the Trump Organisation and a Saudi developer recently launching a new cryptocurrency-linked real estate venture.
Furthermore, Jared Kushner's private equity firm has received £1.53 billion from a fund led by the Saudi Crown Prince. Vindman highlighted that the nature of the call he reviewed was especially alarming given 'the enrichment that the Trump family has received in the ensuing years.'
The call in question is believed to have occurred around June 2019. An official White House summary from that time mentioned discussions on Iran and regional stability but made no reference to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, leaving many questions unanswered.
