Trump Dinners: Where Human Rights Are Just Another Course
The Independent details how Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a lavish White House dinner, just after dismissing MBS's alleged role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Trump, ever the businessman, framed it as a gathering of 'biggest leaders in the world.' (One wonders if Khashoggi's editor made the guest list.) The mainstream narrative focuses on Trump's personal style,
but this cozying up to autocratic regimes, regardless of their human rights records, is bipartisan policy that long predates him. While Trump defends MBS, Biden's administration continues to greenlight arms sales to Saudi Arabia, ensuring the kingdom has ample weaponry to continue its devastating war in Yemen. A 2021 State Department report notes that despite human rights concerns, the U.S.
continues to engage with Saudi Arabia on security cooperation—a cooperation that rakes in billions for U.S. defense contractors. The moral gymnastics required to separate alleged state-sanctioned murder from 'strategic partnership' could win Olympic gold medals. How many 'allies' get to disappear journalists and still get a seat at the world's most powerful dinner table?