
Biden stops short of saying he will raise Khashoggi murder in Saudi Arabia
CNN
President Joe Biden on Thursday stopped short of committing to raise the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi with leaders in Saudi Arabia this week, instead saying he "always" brings up human rights and that his views on the murder have been made "absolutely" clear.
"My views on Khashoggi have been made absolutely, positively clear and I have never been quiet about asking about human rights," Biden said Thursday when asked whether he would bring up Khashoggi during his meeting with Saudi leadership that is expected to take place Friday.
When Biden travels to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Saudi King Salman and his advisers, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Some US officials told CNN they are hoping that MBS and Biden have some one-on-one time as part of the meeting, though the choreography will likely be driven by the Saudi hosts.

The White House is making clear it views President Donald Trump’s Friday Oval Office showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as an overwhelming win underscoring Trump’s “America First” leadership, dispatching top officials and allies on the airwaves to amplify Trump’s handling of the situation even as European leaders are putting on a key show of force of unity for Ukraine and its leader.