Trump to Saudi Crown Prince “I wish I could kill a few Washington Post Journalists”
During Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent visit to Washington, President Donald Trump told the crown prince that he “wishes he could get away with killing a few Washington Post journalists,” according to audio captured on a hot mic.
The remark was picked up while White House staffers were rearranging the Oval Office furniture to make it look more like a place where democracy “theoretically happens.”
According to staffers present at the scene, Trump leaned in toward the crown prince, who looked flattered and mildly confused, and said, “I know you killed Khashoggi. You know, I have a few journalists in mind I wouldn’t mind not seeing again. Really great list. Beautiful list. You’d be very impressed.”
Trump then began casually pointing at various reporters as though choosing items from a restaurant menu, quietly saying to the crown prince, “Not him. Maybe him. Definitely her. Oh, and that guy, he writes for the Post. Big mistake. Big mistake.”
As panic set in across the room, a White House aide attempted to intervene. “Sir, your mic’s on,” whispered the staffer.
But President Trump, somehow still unaware, continued speaking with the relaxed ease of a man who has never suffered a consequence.
“You know, the fake news would be a lot less fake if they had a little… incentive.” Trump said, making a vague slicing gesture with his hand.
The crown prince reportedly nodded politely, apparently unsure if this was a joke or a diplomatic overture.
Once staffers finally cut the audio feed, 43 seconds later, Trump turned to the room with his signature grin and said, “See? That’s called transparency. I’m very transparent. More transparent than Obama. Way more.”
The White House later released a statement claiming the president’s comments were “taken out of context,” adding that Trump was merely discussing “his deep love of Swedish meatballs,” an explanation that clarified nothing but was at least consistent with previous White House messaging strategies.
