Trump vows 'severe punishment' if US determines Saudi Arabia killed Jamal Khashoggi

Trump vows severe punishment for an extra-judicial assassination on foreign soil, but then tempers his response by citing a weapons deal he would like to proceed. This pretty much sums him up. He talks tough about about a murder, yet wants to sell that murderer more weapons. This is typical Trump, goaded by the response in conservative circles that the Saudis need to be punished but morals are overridden by lust for money. Trump cant make his own mind up he decides by proxy based on Fox News sentiment.

The Saudis have a pretty poor track record when it comes to a range of issues, human rights, womens equality, criminal justice reform and a host of others. The US cuddles up to the Saudis because in the event of another Gulf war, they would need the Saudis help, their bases, and their military support.. Despite the Saudis suggesting they are moving to a less oil-dependent economy, the US is as yet not, so oil supply is still a major factor. My money is on the Saudis having murdered Kashoggi and quite frankly, I dont care how the Turks got the info, the fact that its probably accurate intel and its out there is good news. Trumps rhetoric is vacuuous, hes unlikely to seriously punish the Saudis, in fact hes just as likely to simply postpone the arms and other deals until the dust settles.

the Saudis have been exporting extreme Islam in their Wahibi version for decades. they have been funding the building of Mosques around the world and bringing in around 5,000 foreigners a year to learn their religion.15 of the 19 9/11 terrorists were Saudi nationals. Osama bin Laden was a Saudi national. start to understand a pattern.

Severe punishment that doesnt involve santions?Saudi royals should be isolated from the planet!

He has businesss in that country doesnt he they will find a way to punish/reward him besides despite that countrys extreme version of Islam and its 911 involvement/isis/iraqs insurgency America loves that countrys oil and loves selling billions of dollars of weapons to them.Dangerous times, lots of countrys feel emboldened by Americas unstable president, first the Saudis hold another countrys leader a hostage and their leader holds other Saudi princes hostage stealing their money under the excuse of cracking down on corruption while buying a 500millon dollar boat(yeahhh right whos the corrupt on)now this, god forbid Saudi Arabia breaks its peace agreement with Israel after America sold them billions of dollars of modern weapons.

Trump is just blowing hard. Money matters more than ethics to Trump. The Saudis know that.

Khashoggi endured repeated death threats over a number of years from Saudi Arabia. Yet he willingly walked alone into a Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey. I would not have been the only one to have thought, âNo, you shouldnt have!❠when he briskly walked into the embassy that day - the first time he had ever done so since working for the Washington Post.

US foreign policy and US business are interlinked and always have been .If there is anything to be learned from this event, it is make sure you have witnesses when you go into a embassy. After lical police cannot go into them.

Talking tough to please his simple followers. But doing nothing. Predictable Trump.

Saudi Arabia .. the friendly folk who brought you 9/11 ... and the guys are really good at oppressing their women ... apart from oil I fail to see what this country has going for it

Could always freeze over a trillion dollars of Saudi assets in the US...could help the deficit for a few months...but the long term consequences would be very interesting...Meanwhile is NZ planning to ban Saudi trade? I doubt it...One law for the rich...and everyone accepts that.

Hang on, an extrajudicial killing in another sovereign (albeit in a consulate). If this was Russia there would be sanctions and diplomatic expulsions etc. Waiting for the world to take action against the Saudi regime.....

âWell, Ill tell you what I dont want to do. Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, I dont want to hurt jobs. I dont want to lose an order like that. Remember how Eisenhower warned everyone about the undue influence of the Military-Industrial Complex? This is what he meant.

Just more USA hypocrisy. I am not a Hillary fan, and Obama fan, not a Trump fan (Im a Kiwi so who cares what I think anyway!), HOWEVER it does highlight the hypocritical approach of continuing an arms deal with the Saudis while putting sanctions on Iran. His position on Iran (while the rest of the world disregards it) is purely about appeasing the funds-providers in Israel. I get tired of moral verbals this current administration puts out.

Apparently he had an Apple Watch that recorded everything back to his Fiancée who was waiting outside so not aware if was recorded to her phone or she just heard the audio.

donnys gonna slap the saudis with a wet tissue.........go get em donny

No its not complicated at all you look at the genocide in Yemen British and American arms are responsible for that.American policy.....nothing else matters but the dollar.

They are our close allies and we call ourselves the good guys...PS we dont have much credibility Just remember that we buy their oil so we support their regime...end of story

Turkey would have too much to lose by saying this if they werent pretty certain

Hello. Hilary isnt in charge, there is not point hypothesising her response to justify Trumps.