Trump's Casual Remarks on Journalist's Murder Signals a New Low.
“Things happen.” Just two words. That’s all it took for the US president to brush off what is probably the most notorious murder of a reporter of the last decade – and in so doing plumbed a new low in his contempt for journalists, for the media – and for the facts.
The Context
The American leader’s dismissive attitude of the murder of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi came during a media briefing with the Saudi crown prince, MBS – a man whom the CIA found in a 2021 report had ordered the abduction and murder of the Washington Post columnist in that year. (Prince Mohammed has rejected accusations.)
The US intelligence services were not the sole entities to determine the homicide – which occurred in the Saudi diplomatic building in Istanbul and in which the 59-year-old Khashoggi was drugged and cut apart – was signed off at the highest levels. An investigation led by then UN special rapporteur, the UN investigator, reached similar conclusions.
Global Reactions
For a short time, nations were in agreement in their criticism of Saudi Arabia’s actions. The United States imposed sanctions and travel restrictions in that year over the killing, although it stopped short of penalizing Prince Mohammed himself. Since then, the kingdom has been gradually restoring itself – and the leader’s trip to Washington seemed to be the ultimate sign of that rehabilitation.
White House Remarks
Opponents of the regime had strongly criticized the meeting. But what was on display at the presidential residence was more alarming than could have been anticipated. Not only did Trump honor Prince Mohammed but he effectively rewrote the facts – and then pointed fingers at the deceased. Prince Mohammed, Trump claimed when asked, knew nothing about the murder – in direct contradiction to what his country’s own intelligence services concluded four years ago. Moreover, Trump said: “A lot of people disliked that person that you’re talking about, whether you approve of him or didn’t like him, things happen.”
Established Conduct
This represents a fresh and shameful low for a leader who has made no attempt to hide of his disdain for the facts – or for the media. He has smeared reporters (he called ABC news, whose reporter asked the question about Khashoggi at the Saudi press conference “fake news”), berated them in public (he called one a “piggy” this week for asking about his connection with the convicted sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein), sued news outlets for eye-watering sums of money in frivolous cases, and called for media groups he doesn’t like to lose their licenses.
He has forced veteran news services out of the White House press pool for refusing to use language of his preference, and he has gutted financial support for essential public media at home and crucial free press abroad.
Wider Consequences
All of that has created an atmosphere in which journalists are manifestly less safe in the United States, but one in which their targeting – and indeed killing – becomes not just insignificant (“incidents occur”) but acceptable (“a lot of people disliked that gentleman”).
It is no surprise that that year was the most lethal year on record for the press in the more than 30 years the press freedom organization has been tracking this data: a persistent failure to hold those accountable for reporter murders has created a environment without consequences in which journalists’ killers are literally able to get away with murder and so continue to do so.
In no place is this more evident than in Israel, which is accountable for the killing of more than 200 media workers in the past two years.
Effect on Society
The impact on the public is profound. Attacks on journalists are attacks on the truth. They are undermining of reality. They are attacks on our entitlement to information and on our liberty to exist without fear and securely.
On Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists gathers for its annual global journalism honors. My message there is the identical as my one for Trump: these things may occur. But it is our responsibility to make sure they cease.