Listen to the article
The widow of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is demanding the release of a 2019 phone call transcript between former President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, joining Democratic lawmakers who question whether Trump personally benefited from his relationship with the Saudi ruler.
Hanan Elatr Khashoggi appeared at Capitol Hill Friday, just days after Trump dismissed U.S. intelligence findings that implicated Prince Mohammed in her husband’s 2018 killing. During his presidency, Trump extended significant honors to the Saudi ruler while strengthening business and military ties between the two nations.
“There is no justification to kidnap him, torture him, to kill him and to cut him to pieces,” said a visibly emotional Elatr Khashoggi during the news conference, referring to her husband who was killed and dismembered by Saudi intelligence officials and a forensic doctor at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. “This is a terrorist act.”
The congressional push for releasing the call transcript is being spearheaded by Rep. Eugene Vindman, a freshman Democrat from Virginia who served as deputy legal adviser to the National Security Council during Trump’s first term. Vindman, who has reviewed the classified transcript, was careful not to reveal specific details but indicated it contained “the terminology of quid pro quo, the ensuing benefits that the president reaped.”
Democratic lawmakers also highlighted that Trump’s family has extensive business dealings in Saudi Arabia, some of which have reportedly benefited from the prince’s direct involvement.
The situation bears similarities to Trump’s first impeachment over his July 2019 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During that call, Trump asked Zelenskyy to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, while withholding $400 million in military aid – a transcript Trump eventually released under pressure.
Vindman, who reviewed both calls during his time at the National Security Council, described the conversation with the Saudi ruler as “shocking” and said the two calls stood out as the most concerning of all those he reviewed in his official capacity.
“The Khashoggi family and the American people deserve to know what was said on that call,” he emphasized.
Elatr Khashoggi, who received political asylum in the U.S. in 2023 and currently lives in Virginia, has been working to keep her husband’s brutal killing in the public consciousness during Prince Mohammed’s recent state visit. She sees her demand for transparency as continuing her late husband’s work advocating for human rights and criticizing Saudi leadership.
“I need to know what is the truth in this conversation,” she said.
When asked about releasing the transcript, White House communications director Steven Cheung responded with a statement dismissing Vindman as “a bitter back-bencher who nobody takes seriously,” calling him “a serial liar” who participated in “the hoax relating to the perfect Ukraine call.”
Eugene Vindman’s twin brother, then-Army officer Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, played a more prominent role in Trump’s 2019 impeachment. After Trump’s acquittal by the Senate, the White House reassigned Alex Vindman from the National Security Council and removed Eugene Vindman from his position as well. Eugene Vindman later ran for office in northern Virginia in 2023.
The likelihood of the Trump administration voluntarily releasing the 2019 call transcript appears slim, and Democratic lawmakers, currently in the minority, have limited power to compel its disclosure. They avoided speculating whether Trump’s relationship with Prince Mohammed might warrant another impeachment inquiry should Democrats regain House control next year.
Nevertheless, they expressed concern about the broader implications of Trump’s relationship with the Saudi ruler. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, warned, “We are being drawn in the direction of authoritarian monarchy, in tyranny right now.”
The ongoing controversy highlights the complex intersection of international relations, human rights concerns, and questions about potential conflicts of interest that have characterized U.S.-Saudi relations during the Trump administration.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
20 Comments
As an investor, I’m closely watching how this situation unfolds and its potential impact on US-Saudi ties and energy/commodity markets. The release of the call transcript could provide valuable insights.
The Khashoggi murder was a serious breach of human rights. Restoring faith in US leadership on these issues should be a priority for the Biden administration.
This is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences. I’m interested to see if the release of the call transcript provides any new insights into the Trump administration’s handling of the Khashoggi case.
Restoring US credibility on human rights and press freedom should be a priority. The public deserves to know if political or business considerations influenced the response to this tragedy.
This is a concerning situation with serious implications for US-Saudi relations and transparency around the Khashoggi case. The public deserves to know the details of Trump’s discussions with the Saudi crown prince.
Releasing the call transcript could shed light on whether Trump’s personal interests influenced his response to Khashoggi’s murder. It’s important to maintain accountability and uphold democratic principles.
As an energy and commodities investor, I’ll be closely watching how this situation impacts the geopolitics and economics of the US-Saudi relationship. Transparency is key to understanding the broader implications.
The Khashoggi case highlighted the challenges of balancing human rights and strategic interests. I hope the Biden team can forge a more principled approach that upholds democratic values.
This is a concerning situation with serious implications for US-Saudi relations and transparency around the Khashoggi case. The public deserves to know the details of Trump’s discussions with the Saudi crown prince.
Releasing the call transcript could shed light on whether Trump’s personal interests influenced his response to Khashoggi’s murder. It’s important to maintain accountability and uphold democratic principles.
This is a complex geopolitical issue with significant economic implications. I’m curious to see how the Biden team navigates the tricky balance between human rights and strategic interests with Saudi Arabia.
Transparency around high-level discussions on the Khashoggi case is crucial. The public deserves to understand if political or commercial factors influenced the US response.
The Khashoggi killing was a shocking and unacceptable act of violence. I hope the Biden administration will take a stronger stance on human rights and press freedom compared to the Trump era.
Transparency around Trump’s communications with the Saudi leadership is critical. The American public deserves to know if political or business considerations factored into the response to this tragedy.
As an investor, I’m closely watching how this situation unfolds and its potential impact on US-Saudi ties and energy/commodity markets. The release of the call transcript could provide valuable insights.
The Khashoggi killing was a shocking and unacceptable act of violence. I hope the Biden administration will take a stronger stance on human rights and press freedom compared to the Trump era.
The Khashoggi murder was a horrific act that damaged Saudi Arabia’s global reputation. I hope this case can be resolved through proper channels and with accountability for those responsible.
Releasing the call transcript could provide valuable insights into the Trump administration’s calculus on this issue. Maintaining a principled stance on human rights is important for US leadership.
The Khashoggi murder was a horrific act that damaged Saudi Arabia’s global reputation. I hope this case can be resolved through proper channels and with accountability for those responsible.
Transparency around high-level discussions on the Khashoggi case is crucial. The public deserves to understand if political or commercial factors influenced the US response.