“Things Happen”: Trump Brushes Off the Murder of Khashoggi

Lead

On Nov. 18, 2025, President Donald J. Trump, seated beside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office, responded to a question about the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by saying, “Things happen.” The comment came as a reporter cited U.S. intelligence findings that the crown prince had approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018. The exchange—captured on camera and widely circulated—prompted sharp criticism from family members and rights groups, and renewed questions about Washington’s handling of a long-standing bilateral relationship. The widow of Khashoggi publicly urged an apology and compensation following the meeting.

Key Takeaways

• President Trump made the remark “Things happen” on Nov. 18, 2025, while hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office.
• U.S. intelligence agencies have found that the crown prince approved the operation that resulted in Khashoggi’s death at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, 2018.
• The crown prince, who had not been on U.S. soil since March 2018, called the killing “a huge mistake” and said the kingdom had investigated.
• Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, publicly demanded an apology and compensation after the Oval Office meeting.
• Reporters pressed both leaders on the intelligence finding; the president interrupted a question, asked the reporter “Who are you with?” and later reproved the reporter for embarrassing the guest.
• The exchange reignited debate over U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia and the balance between strategic ties and accountability for human rights abuses.

Background

Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and U.S. resident, was murdered on Oct. 2, 2018, inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Investigations by Turkish authorities and reporting by international media documented the killing and subsequent disposal of his body, prompting global outrage and diplomatic strain between Washington and Riyadh. U.S. intelligence agencies subsequently assessed that senior Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, approved the operation that led to Khashoggi’s death; that assessment has informed congressional and public debate in the United States.

Saudi Arabia under Mohammed bin Salman has pursued economic and political reforms while also consolidating authority, a mix that has both modernized parts of the state and raised human rights concerns. Washington’s relationship with Riyadh spans energy, security and regional counterterrorism cooperation, which has often complicated efforts to impose consequences for abuses. Families of 9/11 victims, press freedom advocates and human rights organizations have repeatedly called for accountability in the Khashoggi case, making any high-profile U.S.-Saudi encounter sensitive.

Main Event

The Oval Office sequence began when ABC News correspondent Mary Bruce asked the crown prince about the U.S. intelligence finding that he had orchestrated Khashoggi’s killing. According to video and contemporaneous reporting, the president interjected, first asking the reporter, “Who are you with?” and later telling her not to “embarrass our guest.” The interruption altered the tone of the exchange and drew attention to the president’s approach to press questions about U.S.-Saudi ties.

When the subject returned to Khashoggi, Mr. Trump said the columnist had been “extremely controversial” and added, “Whether you like him, or didn’t like him, things happen.” The crown prince avoided direct attribution of intent in his public remarks and described the killing as “a huge mistake,” saying the kingdom had taken steps to investigate and that such incidents should not recur.

Observers noted that the crown prince’s presence marked a rare return to U.S. soil since March 2018 and that the optics of the Oval Office meeting mattered as much as any joint statements. Khashoggi’s widow used X (formerly Twitter) to call for a personal apology and compensation, saying there was “no justification to murder” her husband. Rights groups said the president’s comment diminished accountability for attacks on journalists and undercut previous U.S. findings.

Analysis & Implications

Domestically, the president’s dismissal of the murder as something that simply “happens” risks widening partisan divides over human rights and foreign policy. Critics argue the remark signals a transactional approach that prioritizes strategic cooperation over accountability, a posture that could erode public trust among constituencies focused on press freedom and rule-of-law norms. Supporters contend that preserving ties with Riyadh is essential for economic and security reasons, and see the president’s words as an attempt to defuse a delicate diplomatic moment.

On the foreign policy front, the exchange may complicate U.S. leverage on human rights matters. If Washington publicly minimizes high-profile allegations against a strategic partner, other governments may draw a lesson about the limits of U.S. insistence on norms. That dynamic could weaken U.S. credibility when pressing allies or rivals on human rights abuses, and it may embolden actors who calculate that strategic importance shields them from consequences.

Economically and militarily, the U.S.-Saudi partnership remains robust, encompassing arms sales, intelligence sharing and regional strategy on Iran and energy markets. The president’s approach appears aimed at preserving those links, but diplomats note that public perception and congressional reactions could constrain policy choices. Lawmakers who have previously pushed sanctions or visa restrictions in response to Khashoggi’s killing may renew legislative pressure, even if the administration resists immediate punitive steps.

Comparison & Data

The table above highlights three anchor dates relevant to the episode. The 2018 killing produced a sustained international outcry and multiple investigations; subsequent U.S. intelligence findings attributing responsibility to senior Saudi officials have been a point of contention in bilateral relations. The 2025 Oval Office encounter served as a focal moment where those unresolved tensions re-entered public view.

Reactions & Quotes

“Things happen.”

President Donald J. Trump

That brief remark, made while the crown prince listened, became the centerpiece of media coverage and criticism, with opponents saying it trivialized a high-profile killing and supporters arguing it reflected blunt realism.

“About the journalist… it was a huge mistake,”

Mohammed bin Salman

The crown prince framed the killing as an error the kingdom regrets and said Saudi authorities had taken steps to investigate, a formulation intended to limit diplomatic fallout while avoiding acceptance of personal responsibility.

“There is no justification to murder my husband,”

Hanan Elatr Khashoggi

Khashoggi’s widow used social media to press for an apology and compensation, underscoring the personal and moral dimensions that continue to animate calls for accountability.

Unconfirmed

• Whether the crown prince offered a private, off-camera apology to Khashoggi’s family during or after the visit is not publicly confirmed.
• Any immediate, concrete U.S. policy changes (sanctions, new visa restrictions or legal steps) tied directly to the Oval Office exchange have not been announced.

Bottom Line

The Oval Office exchange on Nov. 18, 2025, crystallized the longstanding tension between strategic interests and accountability in the U.S.-Saudi relationship. The president’s dismissive phrasing, juxtaposed with U.S. intelligence findings and the crown prince’s cautious remarks, underscores how high-stakes diplomacy can collide with public expectations for justice.

For policymakers and the public, the incident will likely spark renewed scrutiny in Congress, continued activism from rights groups, and closer media examination of future U.S.-Saudi interactions. Whether this moment produces policy shifts or primarily becomes a symbolic flashpoint will depend on subsequent administration steps and legislative responses.

Sources

• The New York Times — U.S. national news reporting on the Oval Office meeting and reactions