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‘It certainly looks like’ Khashoggi is dead, consequences will be ‘severe’ – Trump
The missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi appears to be dead, US President Donald Trump has told reporters, saying there would be “severe” consequences for whoever is behind it.
“It certainly looks that way to me,” Trump said when asked if Khashoggi was dead. “It's very sad.”
Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey two weeks ago. Turkey has accused Saudi Arabia of sending a hit squad to abduct and assassinate the journalist, who wrote a column for the Washington Post. Riyadh has denied responsibility.
The potential consequences for Saudi Arabia “will have to be very severe,” Trump told reporters on Thursday, before departing for Montana. “I mean it's bad, bad stuff, but we'll see what happens.”
"It will have to be very severe," Trump said of the potential consequences for Saudi Arabia following the investigation into the disappearance and alleged death of Jamal Khashoggi.
"I mean it's bad, bad stuff, but we'll see what happens," Trump said. pic.twitter.com/9niLLIukBJ
— POLITICO (@politico) October 18, 2018
Trump dispatched Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Saudi Arabia earlier this week, to press the Saudis on investigating Khashoggi’s disappearance amid reports that Turkey had evidence he was murdered and dismembered inside the consulate. No evidence has yet been made public.
After receiving the results of the investigation, the US government will be making a “strong statement,” Trump added.
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