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Ex-President Donald Trump has largely ignored the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, describing him as an "very contentious" individual that was disliked.

Oval Office Meeting alongside Saudi Crown Prince

These comments were made amid a White House meeting with the Saudi crown prince, marking the prince's initial trip since the columnist's killing in Istanbul.

American spy agencies assessed that the Saudi leader authorized the killing, yet Trump maintained that he "had no knowledge" of the incident.

The Former President's Reply to Journalist's Question

Donald Trump further rebuked the journalist who brought up the matter, suggesting that the media outlet ought to forfeit its license.

"Many people disliked that person you're talking about," the former president remarked. "Regardless of your opinion, incidents happened, yet he was unaware."

Prince Mohammed stated, "It's painful and a significant blunder, and we are doing our best to ensure it from happening again."

Financial Arrangements and Defense Sales

The discussion additionally showcased promised Saudi Arabian spending in the US, initially billed as a $600bn package, however potentially expanded to one trillion dollars.

The former president confirmed his plan to provide sophisticated F-35 stealth fighter jets to Riyadh, notwithstanding concerns from Israel as well as intelligence communities.

Both leaders additionally revealed talks regarding a possible agreement for the kingdom to normalize ties with Israel conditional on a two-state solution.

Middle Eastern Tensions and Challenges

The proposed sale of F-35s has sparked alarm in Israel, which is the only operator of the F-35 in the region.

US intelligence have expressed concern due to Saudi Arabia's strong security ties with China, bringing up fears regarding intellectual property risks.

Nonetheless, the former president stated that Saudi Arabia is entitled to equivalent top-level planes as Israel, citing their status as "reliable friends" of America.

Additional Agreements

Alongside military transactions, US officials noted plans for multibillion-dollar Saudi investment in the United States' artificial intelligence sector, as well as deeper cooperation on atomic energy projects.

"We confirm that we will raise the proposed investment to nearly $1 trillion," the crown prince declared.

Political Challenges

The Trump government is aiming an atomic and defense arrangement with Saudi Arabia, which President Biden's team previously pursued unsuccessfully to achieve.

However, the ongoing situation, including the 2023 incident followed by ensuing bombardment in Palestinian territories, have complicated the chances of such a deal.

"Post-October 7, I believe the cost for Saudi to sign up to diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv has gone up considerably," a former US Middle East negotiator remarked.

Prospective Discussions

"We want to be part the normalization agreements, but we also want to guarantee a concrete plan for a two-state solution," the Saudi leader remarked.

Trump concurred, stating, "We've had a productive discussion on the Abraham Accords. We talked about various options."

"We discussed about a lot quickly. We plan to explore additional aspects," he added. "However, I believe you possess a strong understanding regarding normalization."

Criticism Regarding Commercial Links

The meeting further disputed over perceived links between the Trump family's commercial ventures with Middle Eastern nations.

Trump rejected the possibility of ethical concerns, asserting he had "relinquished control from his companies" while devoted "full attention" to governing.

"I have nothing regarding the family business," he said. "What my family does is permissible. They operate worldwide. Their activities are limited in the kingdom, in fact. I expect opportunities exist. Any dealings they've had has been successful."