Trump defends Saudi crown prince over killing of journalist as they hold talks in Washington

• US President Donald Trump says Saudi’s de facto leader knew nothing about the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018

• Trump was speaking during a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office. His assertion contradicts a 2021 US intelligence report

• Trump also says a “lot of people didn’t like” Khashoggi, while the crown prince calls the killing a “huge mistake” – watch the exchange here

• The two leaders also have discussed closer economic ties – the crown prince says Saudi Arabia will invest $1tn in the US

• Our White House reporter was struck by the genuine fondness that Trump seemed to have for the crown prince – which included sharing jokes

• Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Saudi football club Al-Nassr, is due to appear at the White House later, an official confirms

Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC