Republicans Have Really Moved On From Condemning the Saudi Crown Prince

The Senate unanimously agreed to a resolution in 2018 condemning Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Now, members don’t think much of it.

President Donald Trump arrives with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Alex Brandon/AP

When President Donald Trump stood with Mohammed bin Salman in 2018 after the Saudi government murdered journalist and political dissident Jamal Khashoggi, the Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution condemning the Saudi crown prince.

This week — seven years later — Trump had nothing but kind words for Prince Mohammed during his visit to Saudi Arabia, and most Republican senators didn’t blink.

“President Biden worked with him at the end,” Sen. James Lankford, who said in 2018 he had no reason to doubt the crown prince was responsible for Khashoggi’s murder, said this week when asked about Trump’s praise for Prince Mohammed. “Every president’s going to work with the leadership of Saudi Arabia. That’s been a long-term ally of ours and will continue to be a long-term ally of ours.”