Early Sunday, President Biden disputed the claim that he did not blame Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a private meeting with the nation’s de facto leader on Friday.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, who attended the meeting with the crown prince, said Biden did not confront the crown prince about Khashoggi’s killing.
Speaking to reporters after returning from a trip to the Middle East, Biden said “No” when asked if the secretary of state was telling the truth.
On Friday, Biden said he had raised the issue of the 2018 assassination, adding that he had told the crown prince he believed he was responsible for it.
“I indicated that I thought it was,” Biden said. “He said he was not personally responsible for this and he has taken action against those who are responsible.”
Weeks before he left on the trip, the president was criticized for appearing to mock a controversial leader with a dismal human rights record so he could possibly increase oil production to lower gas prices during an election campaign. year.
US intelligence concluded that the crown prince was behind Khashoggi’s brutal murder in a report that Biden agreed to release.
Biden was photographed punching the crown prince at the royal palace in Jeddah, prompting a barrage of criticism, including from Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan, who said it “projected a level of intimacy” far worse than a handshake.
“The first meeting between President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman was worse than a handshake — it was embarrassing,” Ryan said in a statement.
On Sunday, Biden also denied allegations of the punch.
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“Why don’t you talk about something important?” the president told reporters when asked if he regretted the greeting. “I’m happy to answer a question that matters.”
Biden emerged from the meeting without an immediate outcome on oil production, but said he was optimistic about developments in the coming weeks.
The White House is considering a meeting in August with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a group that influences global oil supplies and of which Saudi Arabia is the de facto leader.
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