President Trump hosted Mohammed bin Salman at a dinner at the White House, defending the Saudi prince in connection with the killing of journalist Khashoggi.

President Donald Trump hosted an extravagant dinner at the White House for Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, just hours after his involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 came to light. Although it was not an official state dinner, the event had all the attributes of such an occasion, with piano music and high-profile guests like Elon Musk and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Trump stated that Saudi Arabia would be designated as a "major non-NATO ally," which sparked surprised reactions from the guests. During the dinner, Trump emphasized the importance of economic and defense relations with Saudi Arabia, while bin Salman claimed that his country had acted correctly in the investigation of Khashoggi's death. Critics from the Democrats, such as Senators Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray, pointed out that it is a shame to honor a leader accused of murdering a journalist.