In a recent development, a “shocking and disturbing” conversation took place between former President Donald Trump and the Saudi crown prince regarding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Pressure is mounting on the White House to release a transcript of this call after a former national security adviser expressed concerns to Congress. Despite US intelligence agencies concluding that the crown prince ordered the operation, President Trump publicly absolved Mohammed bin Salman of any responsibility.
Virginia congressman Eugene Vindman, who served on Trump’s National Security Council, disclosed that a call he reviewed between Trump and the Saudi crown prince contradicted the president’s defense. Vindman highlighted the importance of making the contents of this conversation public, stating that transparency is crucial for both the American people and the Khashoggi family.
During a congressional testimony, Vindman emphasized the significance of two specific calls from Trump’s tenure that troubled him the most: the infamous conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a separate call with Mohammed bin Salman following Khashoggi’s assassination. The transcript of the latter call remains undisclosed, with the White House yet to address requests for its release.
In a controversial move, Trump recently welcomed Mohammed bin Salman back to Washington with grandeur, including military displays and a lavish dinner attended by prominent figures like Elon Musk, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and Bill Ackerman. Despite widespread outrage over Trump’s dismissive remarks regarding Khashoggi’s murder, where he defended the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman denied any involvement and claimed Saudi Arabia had taken appropriate investigative actions.
Additionally, Trump faced renewed scrutiny over his family’s business ties with the kingdom, particularly highlighting the Trump Organization’s collaboration with a Saudi developer on a new cryptocurrency-linked real estate project. Concerns about conflicts of interest arose as Trump asserted that his dealings with Saudi entities posed no conflicts. Vindman underscored the alarming nature of the reviewed call, especially in light of the Trump family’s financial engagements over the years.
The conversation in question is believed to have occurred around June 2019, focusing on discussions related to Iran and regional stability, but omitting any mention of Khashoggi. Notably, Trump’s previous calls have come under scrutiny, with the 2019 conversation with Zelensky leading to his first impeachment, where Vindman’s twin brother, Alexander, played a pivotal role in the investigation.