Share

'Severe Punishment': Trump Threatens Action over WaPo Journalist's Murder

Share

President Donald Trump is threatening tough action if Saudi Arabia is found to have killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has not been seen alive since he entered the Saudi embassy in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

On Saturday, CBS released a video clip from Trump’s “60 Minutes” in which he spoke about the issue.

“There will be severe punishment,” Trump told Lesley Stahl in the interview, set to air Sunday.

Although multiple media reports have said that Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post, is presumed to have been killed by the Saudis, Trump said the facts are not all in.

Trending:
Prince Harry Named in Major Sex Trafficking Lawsuit Against Rapper

“It’s being investigated, it’s being looked at very, very strongly, and we would be very upset and angry if that were the case,” the president said.

The Turkish government has also alleged that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate, a claim that Saudi officials have denied.

A Turkish newspaper said a recording made by the reporter’s Apple Watch shows he was killed in the consulate, CNN reported, citing the pro-government newspaper Sabah.

The newspaper claimed “interrogation, torture and killing were audio recorded and sent to both his phone and to iCloud.”

Do you think Saudi Arabia should be severely punished if it's found to have murdered Jamal Khashoggi?

Although Trump’s differences with mainstream media outlets are legendary, he said the fact that a reporter may have been killed raises the stakes for the investigation.

“There’s a lot at stake, maybe especially so because this man was a reporter,” he said. “You’ll be surprised to hear me say that, there’s something really terrible and disgusting about that if that were the case.”

During his interview, Trump was asked whether any response related to the Khashoggi case could impact a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

“Everybody in the world wanted that order,” the president said. “Russia wanted it, China wanted it, we wanted it. We got it. … I don’t want to hurt jobs, I don’t want to lose an order like that. There are other ways of punishing.”

However, some in Congress feel differently.

Related:
Biden and Trump Visit New York at Same Time - One Mingles with Elites at Ritzy Fundraiser, the Other Honors a Fallen Police Officer

Arms deals “are certainly going to be a huge concern if” the Saudis can be proven to have killed Khashoggi, Sen. Cory Gardner said, according to Politico.

“Saudi Arabia needs to clear this up immediately,” the Colorado Republican said. “Obviously, there’s a way that this can end very badly, and that is if Saudi is indeed responsible for this — as, at least reports I am seeing, would point to that direction.”

Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said the U.S. cannot let Saudi Arabia get a pass if it is implicated in Khashoggi’s death.

“It’s important to have allies in that part of the world,” Thune said. “But I do think there are lines that get crossed from time to time that require a response.”

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , ,
Share
Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.
Jack Davis is a freelance writer who joined The Western Journal in July 2015 and chronicled the campaign that saw President Donald Trump elected. Since then, he has written extensively for The Western Journal on the Trump administration as well as foreign policy and military issues.
Jack can be reached at jackwritings1@gmail.com.
Location
New York City
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Foreign Policy, Military & Defense Issues




Conversation