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Ex-President Trump appeared to shrug off the assassination of columnist Jamal Khashoggi, calling him an "highly divisive" figure that was disliked.

White House Meeting with Saudi Leader

The statements came amid a White House meeting with the Saudi crown prince, representing the prince's initial trip after the columnist's killing abroad.

Intelligence officials determined that Mohammed bin Salman was behind the killing, yet Trump maintained that the prince "knew nothing" of the incident.

The Former President's Response to Reporter's Question

Donald Trump further rebuked the reporter who raised the topic, suggesting that the media outlet ought to forfeit its permit.

"A lot of individuals did not like that man you're talking about," Trump remarked. "Irrespective of personal views, events unfolded, however he had no idea."

Prince Mohammed stated, "It hurts and a significant blunder, and we are doing our best to ensure a recurrence."

Financial Deals and Defense Sales

The talks also highlighted proposed Saudi spending in America, originally presented as a $600bn package, though subsequently raised to a trillion-dollar sum.

The former president confirmed his aim to provide sophisticated F-35 aircraft to Saudi Arabia, notwithstanding concerns from Israel as well as American spy agencies.

The two men also confirmed negotiations regarding a possible deal for Riyadh to establish relations with Tel Aviv in exchange for a two-state solution.

Middle Eastern Tensions and Complications

The planned F-35 transaction has sparked anxiety among Israeli officials, which currently possesses the stealth fighter in the Middle East.

US intelligence have expressed concern because of Riyadh's extensive military cooperation with the Chinese, raising fears regarding security breaches.

However, Trump insisted that Saudi Arabia is entitled to comparable advanced specification jets as Israel, noting their status as "good allies" of the US.

Broader Agreements

Besides arms deals, US officials stated expectations for multi-billion Saudi investment in the United States' AI sector, plus enhanced partnership in atomic energy development.

"We can announce our plan to boost that $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion," the Saudi leader stated.

Diplomatic Issues

The Trump government is aiming a nuclear and security partnership deal with the kingdom, which the current government previously pursued without success to finalize.

However, the ongoing situation, including the 2023 incident and later operations in Gaza, have complicated the chances of an agreement.

"Post-October 7, I believe the cost for Saudi to agree to relations with Tel Aviv has risen significantly," an ex- US Middle East negotiator stated.

Prospective Discussions

"We want to be part the normalization agreements, yet we also want to ensure a clear path for a two-state solution," the Saudi leader stated.

Trump echoed, noting, "We conducted an excellent discussion regarding normalization. We talked about one state, two state."

"We discussed about many topics briefly. We'll be discussing it further," Trump concluded. "But I think you possess a strong understanding of the agreements."

Controversy Regarding Financial Ties

The encounter was also controversial because of perceived links between Trump's relatives commercial ventures and Gulf countries.

The former president rejected any ethical concerns, stating he had "stepped away from his companies" and committed "full attention" to the presidency.

"I have no involvement regarding the family business," he stated. "Their actions is permissible. They do business globally. They've done very little with Saudi Arabia, actually. I expect they have potential. Any dealings they've had has been very good."