Iran Press/ America: Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Donald Trump spoke contemptuously about the murder plot: “They had a very bad original concept. It was carried out poorly and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups.”
Later at a dinner with military leaders, he returned to theme of how the crime was performed: “They did a bad job of execution and they did a bad job of talking about it or covering it up.”
“I’m saying they should have never thought about it,” Trump added. “Once they thought about it, everything else they did was bad too … It should have never happened.”
Trump has put out mixed messages over recent days, vowing “very severe” consequences and mentioning possible economic sanctions, but also ruling out a block on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and highlighting the country’s role as a US ally.
At the weekend, the US president tried to shield and protect Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by saying he thought that Saudi claims that Jamal Khashoggi had died in a "fistfight" were credible.
His comments on Tuesday came after the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly tore down the Saudi version of events, making fresh allegations that Khashoggi’s “savage” murder was premeditated, and calling for an independent investigation.
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Erdogan: Khashoggi killing planned in advance
Erdo?an had billed his keenly awaited address at the Turkish parliament in Ankara as the moment he would reveal the naked truth about what happened to Khashoggi. He said he was not satisfied with Riyadh’s suggestion that the killing was a rogue extradition operation gone wrong, and called for the “highest ranked” of those responsible to be brought to justice.
According to a CNN report, 21 Saudi suspects have been named in connection to the death of Jamal Khashoggi, according to State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
After Saudi Arabia failed in covering up Jamal Khashoggi's death, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir call his country's organized terror to silence Saudi dissidents a "tremendous mistake" and part of a rogue operation. Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump commenting on Khashoggi's killing said: "Somebody really messed up and they should be in big trouble."
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Saudi FM: 'terrible mistake' happened at the Saudi consulate in Turkey
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on October 2
According to sources close to Trump's confidantes he feels betrayed by the Saudis.Trump, who spoke Sunday with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is privately blaming them for making him look bad. At times he has talked about how much he has done for the Saudis, complaining that they put him in this position.
Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and never come back.
Khashoggi's death has put public pressure on Trump to cancel weapon sales to Saudi Arabia. Human rights activists have always criticized Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for jailing hundreds of journalists and activists and for engaging in a brutal war in Yemen.
But Trump instead defended Saudi arms deal saying US jobs depended on the sale of US weaponry to Saudi Arabia and other shady regimes.
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Zarif: Global reaction to Khashoggi's murder belated but severe
UN chief calls for probe into Jamal Khashoggi’s death
Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi killed in its consulate
