President Trump has vetoed three separate resolutions aimed at blocking US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, saying in his statement that it would “weaken America’s global competitiveness.”



The resolutions were driven by anger over Saudi Arabia’s assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. President Trump opposed losing out on such sales over just one assassination, however, and had promised this veto.



The Senate intends to take up Trump’s veto message on August 2. Though there was a solid majority in both houses of Congress in favor of these resolutions, it is not expected that there was a serious chance to muster an override.



Trump further complained that attempts to stop the sales were “ill-conceived and time-consuming,” but they’re not likely to stop here. The House version of the 2020 NDAA also includes a number of amendments of similar language, and Trump may be reluctant to veto the entire military budget over the sales.

Even then, this issue isn’t going anywhere, with Congressional votes showing growing anti-Saudi sentiment and resistance to these arms sales. More votes are certain to come up going forward.



