Trump Finds Khashoggi 'Controversial,' Not Murdered
Donald Trump, fresh from his Oval Office meet-and-greet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), dismissed Jamal Khashoggi's brutal murder by stating, 'a lot of people didn't like' him. Axios breathlessly highlights this as if the US ever truly held MBS accountable. Let's not forget the Biden administration's 2021 report, which concluded MBS 'approved' Khashoggi's capture or killing.
Despite this, Presidents, including Biden, quickly got back to selling advanced weaponry to Riyadh. Transparency, it seems, is a commodity easily traded for oil and arms deals. The pattern is clear: outrage over human rights abuses is temporary, often fading the moment defense contracts and geopolitical alliances are on the table. The same week Trump sells fighter jets, he legitimizes a regime
that dismembers journalists. One might wonder what 'red line' actually looks like when the US continually supplies the chalk. How many 'controversial' journalist disappearances does it take before we question the moral calculus?