Trump threatens ABC News and dismisses Khashoggi’s murder in Saudi meeting
Former US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy after threatening government action against ABC News over its coverage. His remarks came during an Oval Office meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where he also dismissed questions about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The outburst has drawn sharp criticism from press freedom advocates and journalists, who accused Trump of undermining media independence and downplaying a brutal killing.
The confrontation began when ABC correspondent Mary Bruce asked Trump about Khashoggi’s 2018 murder by Saudi agents. Trump called her 'insubordinate' and suggested that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr should 'look at' punishing ABC—a move that would break decades of precedent protecting press freedom.
Trump later misrepresented how FCC licences work, implying the government could retaliate against broadcasters like a dictator would. His comments raised concerns about potential legal battles over media regulation, despite the US president having no direct control over news outlets.
During the same meeting, Trump repeatedly objected to press questions while seated next to the crown prince. He dismissed Khashoggi as 'extremely controversial' and claimed the slain journalist had 'nothing to do with the family business'. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned these remarks, arguing they downplayed the crime and failed to hold Saudi Arabia accountable.
Karen Attiah, who edited Khashoggi’s columns for Wikipedia, called Trump’s statements 'absolutely vile'. Reporters Without Borders noted that Saudi Arabia has no independent media, with journalists facing heavy surveillance—a contrast to US press freedoms Trump appeared to threaten.
Trump’s threats against ABC and his dismissal of Khashoggi’s murder have intensified scrutiny of his stance on media freedom. Legal experts warn that any attempt to punish broadcasters would face significant challenges in court.
The incident has also reignited debates over US-Saudi relations and the treatment of journalists critical of authoritarian regimes.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
