President Donald Trump speaks to members of the military via teleconference from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thanksgiving Day. | Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images White House Trump denies CIA implicated Saudi crown prince in Khashoggi murder

President Donald Trump on Thursday said that the CIA did not reach a conclusion about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, adding during a teleconference with military members that Salman “regretted the death more than I do.”

The president had previously declined to confirm or deny reports that the CIA had concluded the crown prince ordered Khashoggi's assassination. When asked who should be blamed instead, Trump said “maybe the world” because it’s a “vicious, vicious place,” and referenced oil prices as a reason not to punish Saudi Arabia further, according to pool reports.


Asked by a reporter if the CIA had a recording implicating Salman, the president responded: "I don’t want to talk about it. You’ll have to ask them.”

Later, he responded to a question on the crown prince's potential involvement: "Whether he did or whether he didn’t, he denies it vehemently. His father denies, the king, vehemently. The CIA doesn’t say they did it. They do point out certain things, and in pointing out those things, you can conclude that maybe he did or maybe he didn’t."

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During the call from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, the president went on to speak at length about border security and the migrant caravan, saying that he would consider shutting down the entire U.S.-Mexico border in response.

Echoing earlier criticisms of the Ninth Circuit court, which has overruled several of the president's orders on border immigration and refugees, Trump said: “The border is coming along very well. It’s become very strong, we’re getting some terrible decisions from the Ninth Circuit as usual. I don’t know if we’ve ever had a victory in the Ninth Circuit. We’ve had to appeal it, appeal it. A vast number of decisions get overturned, generally. And it’s a shame, it’s a shame."

Referencing an extraordinary rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday after his criticism of the Ninth Circuit, the president said "I know that Chief Justice Roberts, John Roberts, has been speaking a little bit about it, and I think — I have a lot of respect for him, I like him and I respect him, but I think we have to use some common sense. "

The president then threatened a government shutdown over border security, and referenced shutting down "parts of" the border two days ago, but did not elaborate. He said a government shutdown over wall funding "could happen" in December.

Of embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the president said "She's in there trying ... It's a tough job." He added that troops stationed at the border could use lethal force against migrants "if they have to."

On the subject of his daughter Ivanka’s use of a private email account when conducting government business, Trump said he had spoken to her and that she is “very innocent.”

In personal calls with military personnel, Trump referred to America as a "hot nation," citing the economy. Earlier, Trump had spoken about a possible visit to troops overseas, without offering specifics.

Following the teleconferences with troops, Trump visited with Coast Guard members at Coast Guard State Lake Worth Inlet just after 11 a.m., speaking for about 5 minutes before heading to nearby Trump International golf course just before noon.