U.S. President Donald Trump, second right, is flanked by, from left, Security Adviser John Bolton, the US ambassador to Finland Robert Frank Pence and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a working breakfast with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki, Finland, Monday, July 16, 2018 prior to his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Finnish capital. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Donald Trump has been amping up rhetoric on Saudi Arabia as the growing scandal over the disappearance and death of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is creating major international waves.
Saudi Arabia has denied in the strongest of terms that it was responsible for Khashoggi’s death, and has responded to U.S. threats of sanctions with their own threats, including a possible hiking of oil prices.
Because of the kingdom’s repeated denials, Trump announced via Twitter this morning that he is sending Pompeo to Saudi Arabia.
Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened “to our Saudi Arabian citizen.” He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2018
This announcement comes on the same day that the President is traveling to Florida and Georgia to survey the damage from Hurricane Michael.
Trump received criticism over his silence on the Khashoggi disappearance before finally speaking publicly about it late last week and over the weekend. The Washington Post, seeking answers for one of its own, led a blistering attack.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is said to be allowing Turkey to investigate its consulate in order to conduct its own investigation.
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