Washington: President Donald Trump on Tuesday brushed aside US intelligence findings that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman likely bore responsibility for the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as he warmly welcomed the Saudi leader to the White House for his first visit in seven years.

The US–Saudi relationship had been severely strained after the murder of Khashoggi, a fierce critic of the kingdom. But seven years on, the rupture appears fully repaired, with Trump publicly embracing the 40-year-old crown prince, calling him an indispensable figure in shaping the Middle East for decades to come.

In defending Prince Mohammed, Trump downplayed Khashoggi’s killing, describing the journalist as “extremely controversial” and adding, “a lot of people didn’t like that gentleman.” Prince Mohammed has consistently denied involvement in the murder.

“Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen,” Trump said when questioned in the Oval Office. “But (Prince Mohammed) knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that. You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”

US intelligence, however, concluded that the crown prince likely approved the operation, according to a report declassified in 2021 at the start of the Biden administration. The Trump administration had refused to release the findings during his first term.

Prince Mohammed said Saudi Arabia had taken “all the right steps” in investigating Khashoggi’s death. “It’s painful and it’s a huge mistake,” he said.

Trump, who declared the two leaders had become “good friends”, praised the crown prince’s progress on human rights, though he offered no specific examples. “What’s he done is incredible in terms of human rights and everything else,” he said.

The crown prince announced that Saudi Arabia would increase its planned US investments to $1 trillion, up from the $600 billion figure announced during Trump’s 2017 visit to the kingdom. Echoing Trump’s rhetoric, he called the United States the “hottest country on the planet” for foreign investment.

Trump also rejected suggestions of a conflict of interest regarding his family’s business ties to Saudi Arabia. In September, real estate developer Dar Global announced plans to build Trump Plaza in Jeddah, marking its second venture with the Trump Organization in Saudi Arabia. Trump insisted: “I have nothing to do with the family business.”

Human rights groups sharply criticised Trump’s remarks and his continued defence of Prince Mohammed. “President Trump has Jamal Khashoggi’s blood on his hands,” said Raed Jarrar, advocacy director for DAWN, a US-based organisation founded by Khashoggi. “Trump has made himself complicit in every execution and imprisonment MBS has ordered since.”

Prince Mohammed was welcomed to the White House on Tuesday morning with a formal ceremony, including a military flyover and a performance by the US Marine Band. Although not a state visit — the prince is not head of state — he effectively governs the kingdom in place of King Salman, 89, whose health has declined.

Trump showed the prince the newly installed Presidential Walk of Fame and a photo of an autopen-signed portrait of Joe Biden, which replaces the Democrat’s official portrait.

Later, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted a black-tie dinner attended by high-profile guests including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Elon Musk and football star Cristiano Ronaldo. During the dinner, Trump announced that Saudi Arabia would be designated a major non-NATO ally, a symbolic move intended to strengthen defence and security cooperation.

On Wednesday, Trump and Prince Mohammed will attend an investment summit at the Kennedy Centre alongside senior executives from companies including Salesforce, Qualcomm, Pfizer, Chevron and Aramco, where further deals may be unveiled.

On the eve of the visit, Trump confirmed he had approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, despite concerns within his own administration about potential exposure of sensitive technology to China. The White House said the two leaders finalised the F-35 deal on Tuesday, as well as an agreement for nearly 300 US-made tanks. They also signed accords on capital markets, critical minerals, anti-money-laundering efforts and counter-terrorism financing.

The decisions come as Trump seeks to persuade Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel. During his first term, Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, establishing ties between Israel and Bahrain, Morocco and the UAE. He views securing Saudi participation as essential to long-term regional stability, especially following the two-year war in Gaza.

But Riyadh has maintained that normalisation can only follow “a clear path of a two-state solution.” Prince Mohammed reiterated that position on Tuesday: “We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we want also to be sure that we secure a clear path of a two-state solution.”