Despite mounting evidence that Saudi Arabia was behind the apparent murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, including a report the nation is “preparing to admit” Khashoggi was killed during an interrogation, President Donald Trump invoked the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to defend the Saudis in an interview on Tuesday.

“Here we go again with, you know, you’re guilty until proven innocent,” Trump told the Associated Press. “I don’t like that. We just went through that with Justice Kavanaugh and he was innocent all the way as far as I’m concerned.”

Khashoggi was reportedly tortured and killed at Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish investigators claim to have audio and video recordings proving the Virginia resident was murdered. Turkish officials told CNN that Khashoggi’s body was “cut into pieces” after he was killed. Security cameras reportedly captured footage of the 15-man Saudi “assassination squad” arriving in Istanbul.

Breaking with widespread condemnation of Saudi Arabia, Trump invoked Kavanaugh, who was accused of attempting to rape Dr. Christine Blasey Ford in high school, to suggest there is a rush to judgment on the Saudis’ role in Khashoggi’s apparent murder. Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court despite numerous allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.


Trump, who continues to lie about his financial ties to Saudi Arabia, has warned that he’s opposed to canceling arms deals with the Saudis due to the potential impact on the U.S. economy.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Riyadh on Tuesday and was seen laughing with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Trump then tweeted that the Saudis had denied any involvement in Khashoggi’s apparent killing.

Just spoke with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who totally denied any knowledge of what took place in their Turkish Consulate. He was with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2018

…during the call, and told me that he has already started, and will rapidly expand, a full and complete investigation into this matter. Answers will be forthcoming shortly. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2018

The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake noted the similarities to when Trump accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s denials of election interference over the assessments of U.S. intelligence agencies.


Numerous businesses and lobbying groups have cut ties with or distanced themselves from Saudi Arabia since details of Khashoggi’s apparent murder emerged.