President Donald Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIA's assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency "had feelings" but did not firmly place blame for the death.Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing.
"He denies it vehemently," Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that "maybe he did, maybe he didn't."
"I hate the crime. . . . I hate the coverup. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do," Trump said.
Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame.
"He denies it vehemently," Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that "maybe he did, maybe he didn't."
"I hate the crime. . . . I hate the coverup. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do," Trump said.
Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame.
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