Trump: “rogue killers” murdered Jamal Khashoggi, maybe. Everyone else: Saudi Arabia did.
President Donald Trump talked to reporters today about his phone conversation with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz, during which the two despots discussed the disappearance and apparent killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The man is nothing if not consistent.
First, Trump pointed out the fact that King Abdulaziz told him Khashoggi was a Saudi citizen, as in, not a U.S. citizen, so the man's death doesn't matter that much.
Remaining loyal to his family's business interests with Saudi financiers, President Donald Trump also said "rogue killers" may have murdered Jamal Khashoggi, definitely probably not the government of Saudi Arabia, nope, because the Saudi king personally told him so.
"His denial to me could not have been stronger," said the President of his conversation with King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Funny, that's the exact same thing he said about his chat with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the 2015 U.S. election "meddling." Putin denied it, and what he says must be true.
"We are going to leave nothing uncovered," Trump today said of his conversation with the Saudi King.
It's almost as if there is a pattern.
How did these rogue killers get into the highly secure Saudi embassy in Istanbul? Can't wait for the Trump investigation to reveal all.
Trump today on Khashoggi's disappearance - "It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?"
It also could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds.pic.twitter.com/iz9M586pDa
- J.D. Durkin (@jiveDurkey) October 15, 2018
Trump says 'rogue killers' may be behind Khashoggi disappearance https://t.co/kdS8BTNvnl
- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 15, 2018
If Saudi Arabia is held accountable, it will be by a bipartisan group of senators https://t.co/xyUcppx2hg
- Evan Siegfried (@evansiegfried) October 15, 2018
Trump's 400 pound mystery hacker has gotten off his bed and is now a lethal assassin. https://t.co/fgcFBhHRe8
- Anthony Zurcher (@awzurcher) October 15, 2018
Rogue killers who managed to get into the embassy???? https://t.co/Sw8YRPJkmA
- Sam Stein (@samstein) October 15, 2018
I'm confused how "rogue killers" could break into the secure Saudi Consulate, kill and dismember Jamal Khashoggi and escape without being detected. Plus, what then was the team of Saudi agents doing with a bone saw? https://t.co/O7vaeCx6eS
- Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) October 15, 2018
Trump, sounding very similar to his Putin interference denials, says that it could have been "rogue killers" who murdered Jamal Khashoggi.
"It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?" (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/uap6d2Db40
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 15, 2018
I wonder if the rogue killers have met the 400-pound hacker.
- Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) October 15, 2018
Today's "It sounded to me like these could have been rogue killers" is 2016's "Somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds."
- Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) October 15, 2018
Trump just now, bringing up the Roy Moore, Rob Porter, Brett Kavanaugh defense regarding Jamal Khashoggi.
"The King firmly denied any knowledge of it... He said it very strongly.... His denial could not have been stronger.
"It could have been rogue killers. Who knows?"
- S.V. Dite (@svdate) October 15, 2018
.@realDonaldTrump says he spoke to Saudi King Salman for about 20 minutes by phone, and the King "firmly denies" "any knowledge" in the disappearance of #Khashoggi. Trump suggested it could have been "rogue killers". pic.twitter.com/W6SjLEhIev
- Weijia Jiang (@weijia) October 15, 2018
Pres. Trump says King Salman "firmly denies any knowledge" of "what took place" with regards to journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
"It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows? We're going to try getting to the bottom of it." https://t.co/ycHTGetpwh pic.twitter.com/NmJFzPbhzK
- ABC News (@ABC) October 15, 2018
Speaking with reporters on the way to board Marine One, Pres says King Salman firmly denied a Saudi role in the disappearance or death of Jamal Khashoggi. "His denial could not have been stronger." Pres said it sounded like rogue killers might be to blame. pic.twitter.com/RVaePv0a60
- Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 15, 2018