MBS Addresses 9/11, US-Saudi Ties at White House

During a press engagement at the White House, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed persistent questions about the 9/11 attacks, asserting that Osama bin Laden deliberately used Saudi nationals as part of a strategy to break US-Saudi relations. Prince Salman explained that bin Laden’s objective was to undermine the alliance, which he perceived as a threat to extremist movements. He referenced CIA documents to support his claim, emphasizing that the strength of the US-Saudi partnership is a bulwark against terrorism and that reinforcing it is crucial for global security. The Crown Prince characterized the 9/11 tragedy as a ‘huge mistake’ and offered his condolences to the families impacted. He reassured that Saudi Arabia has taken significant steps, including thorough investigations and system enhancements, to prevent future attacks, stating they are doing everything possible to ensure it does not happen again. In a separate exchange, President Trump defended Prince Salman regarding the Jamal Khashoggi incident, stating the Crown Prince was unaware of the operation.