Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince, Signs Major Military and Economic Deals. U.S. President Donald Trump strongly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday claiming he had no knowledge of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's 2018 killing — a position that contradicts U.S. intelligence findings. The statement came as bin Salman made his first White House visit in over seven years, seeking to repair his international image. During the visit, Trump designated Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally and oversaw agreements on arms sales, including the historic approval for F-35 fighter jets, civil nuclear cooperation, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals. Bin Salman also pledged to increase U.S. investments to $1 trillion. The agreements mark a major boost to U.S.-Saudi relations but raise concerns over regional military balance, as Israel remains the only Middle Eastern country operating the F-35. Trump's warm welcome, including a military honor guard and flyovers, underscores his administration's priority on strengthening ties with the kingdom despite ongoing human rights controversies.