'Maybe He Did, Maybe He Didn't': Trump Defends Saudis, Downplays U.S. Intel

President Trump has made explicit that the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia will be defined by business deals and a shared opposition to Iran — and not the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"If we abandon Saudi Arabia, it would be a terrible mistake," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Tuesday. "We're with Saudi Arabia. We're staying with Saudi Arabia."

Trump has made the Saudi alliance a cornerstone of his Middle East policy. The kingdom, in turn, is the biggest buyer of U.S. weapons and shares the president's belief that Iran is the greatest threat to the region.

But Khashoggi's death last month at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul ignited a firestorm of international criticism directed at the Saudi leadership, with some members of Congress calling for a halt to arms sales or other penalties against the kingdom.

Trump, however, remains the kingdom's most important defender, stressing his commitment again on Tuesday.

"The crime against Jamal Khashoggi was a terrible one, and one that our country does not condone," Trump said. But, he added, "The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region." - Read More

'Maybe He Did, Maybe He Didn't': Trump Defends Saudis, Downplays U.S. Intel

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