Donald Trump has said he is awaiting a briefing from the CIA on the death of Jamal Khashoggi, after a US official said the intelligence agency had concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the journalist’s murder.

The president was expecting to speak to the agency on Saturday to receive an update on its assessment, which contradicts the kingdom’s claims that the prince was not involved in the assassination.

The CIA is said to have “high confidence” in the conclusions of its investigation, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the development.

An official familiar with the agency’s investigation confirmed its conclusion.

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House for California, Mr Trump said: “We haven’t been briefed yet. The CIA is going to be speaking to me today.

“As of this moment, we were told that he did not play a role. We’re going to have to find out what they have to say.”

The CIA’s assessment is the most definitive to date that links the crown prince to Khashoggi’s killing. It is likely to complicate the US president’s hopes of preserving his administration’s close relationship with the Saudi regime.

Mr Trump said Saudi Arabia was “a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development” and he would “have to take a lot of things into consideration” when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom.

He added he would speak to the CIA “and lots of others”, including secretary of state Mike Pompeo, while on board Air Force One.

Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Show all 7 1 /7 Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Jamal Khashoggi Washington Post journalist who was critical of the Saudi regime and the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he was murdered on 2 October in the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul AFP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Heir to the Saudi throne, Mohammed bin Salman has been implicated in the murder, with US officials claiming that he must have known of the plot AFP/Getty Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures 15 man hit squad Turkish police suspect these 15 men of being involved in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, issued 10 October, 8 days after the journalist disappeared EPA Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Saud al-Qahtani Aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saud al-Qahtani is claimed to have ordered Khashoggi's murder Saud Al-Qahtani/Twitter Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb A former diplomat who often travelled with the Crown Prince, Mutreb was initially claimed to be the leader of the hit squad and is pictured here entering the Saudi consulate on the day of the murder AP Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Mustafa al-Madani First implicated in the 15 CCTV photos released by the Turkish police, al-Madani was later found to have been used as a body double for Khashoggi, leaving the Saudi consulate dressed in his clothes on the day the journalist was killed CNN Jamal Khashoggi death: key figures Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi (L) Son of the murdered journalist met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on 23 October EPA

The intelligence agency’s conclusion will fuel efforts in congress to further punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi’s murder in the kingdom’s Istanbul embassy last month.

Mr Trump’s administration this week penalised 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American lawmakers have called on the president to also curtail arms sales to the kingdom or take other harsher punitive measures.

Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat insisted the crown prince had “absolutely” nothing to do with the killing.

Republican senator Bob Corker, who chairs the foreign relations committee, said “everything points” to the crown prince’s involvement. He urged Mr Trump to act quickly before the Saudi regime executed those it has blamed for the Khashoggi murder.

He tweeted: “Everything points to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, MbS, ordering Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing.

“The Trump administration should make a credible determination of responsibility before MbS executes the men who apparently carried out his orders.”

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Vice-president Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua New Guinea that he could not comment on “classified information”.

He said the US would “follow the facts” while trying to find a way of preserving a “strong and historic partnership” with Saudi Arabia.

Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen who lived in the US, was a columnist for the Washington Post and often criticised the royal family.