President Trump and his aides have begun to privately express doubts about Saudi Arabia’s explanation for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi even as the administration stands publicly in support of the oil-rich monarchy, according to U.S. officials.
The kingdom’s claim that Khashoggi was killed after a fistfight escalated inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul was met with a torrent of international skepticism Saturday over how a team of Saudi agents could fly to Istanbul to meet Khashoggi and eventually kill him without the knowledge or consent of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the 33-year-old de facto ruler.
White House privately doubts Saudi account of journalist’s killing
President Trump expressed displeasure with son-in-law Jared Kushner for mishandling U.S.-Saudi relations.
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