THE NEW YORK TIMES — OPINION: The realities of geopolitics have long required the United States to ally itself with foreign leaders who commit terrible deeds. Defeating foreign threats often requires the help of countries that fall far short of being liberal democracies that respect human rights. Saudi Arabia is a classic example of such a country today. It both has a disturbing human rights record and is a legitimately valuable American partner in countering Iran’s aggressions and building a more stable Middle East.
But working with imperfect partners does not mean that the United States should cover up and lie about their misdeeds, as President Trump did when receiving Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, in the Oval Office on Tuesday. It was a fawning, cringe-worthy performance that belied America’s more powerful status. It was absolution rather than realpolitik.
Mr. Trump embraced the prince’s implausible claim of innocence in the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen and journalist, and berated Mary Bruce, of ABC News, for asking about the killing. The C.I.A. has concluded that the crown prince almost certainly ordered the killing of Mr. Khashoggi, a critic of the prince who was living in self-imposed exile in the United States and was murdered while visiting a Saudi consulate in Turkey. A United Nations investigator and a coalition of nongovernmental organizations reached similar conclusions. » | The Editorial Board | Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Saudi Arabia Backs Elon Musk’s xAI With Data Center Deal
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Mr. Musk’s xAI will work with the Saudi artificial intelligence company Humain on a new data center, part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s effort to diversify his kingdom’s economy.
Elon Musk has been hunting for partners to grow his artificial intelligence start-up xAI as it tries to keep pace with OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has been trying to diversify his oil-rich kingdom’s economy by making it a global hub for tech and artificial intelligence.
On Wednesday, their intersecting interests led to a deal.
Mr. Musk’s xAI, which makes the Grok chatbot, agreed to work with the state-backed Saudi company Humain to build a new data center in the Persian Gulf kingdom. The project is set to consume as much as 500 megawatts of electricity, which would make it xAI’s biggest data center outside the United States. Humain and xAI did not disclose the value of the deal.
The project was part of a package of military and tech deals announced on Wednesday during Prince Mohammed’s visit to Washington. The United States and Saudi Arabia appear to have reached an agreement that clears the path for the kingdom to buy the U.S. semiconductors needed to power artificial intelligence, as the United States has used A.I. chips as part of geopolitical diplomacy. » | Adam Satariano and Paul Mozur | Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Elon Musk has been hunting for partners to grow his artificial intelligence start-up xAI as it tries to keep pace with OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has been trying to diversify his oil-rich kingdom’s economy by making it a global hub for tech and artificial intelligence.
On Wednesday, their intersecting interests led to a deal.
Mr. Musk’s xAI, which makes the Grok chatbot, agreed to work with the state-backed Saudi company Humain to build a new data center in the Persian Gulf kingdom. The project is set to consume as much as 500 megawatts of electricity, which would make it xAI’s biggest data center outside the United States. Humain and xAI did not disclose the value of the deal.
The project was part of a package of military and tech deals announced on Wednesday during Prince Mohammed’s visit to Washington. The United States and Saudi Arabia appear to have reached an agreement that clears the path for the kingdom to buy the U.S. semiconductors needed to power artificial intelligence, as the United States has used A.I. chips as part of geopolitical diplomacy. » | Adam Satariano and Paul Mozur | Wednesday, November 19, 2025
IHIP News: Trump Loses All Control with Another Outburst in the Oval Office, Defends Murderous Dictator.
BEWARE! This video contains some foul language, but it needs to be heard. Nb: Its content is also not for the faint-hearted. — Mark
Trump Welcomes Saudi Arabian Dictator with Open Arms
Trump Gets 'Positive and Chummy' with the 'International Pariah' Saudi Arabia Leader
Nov 19, 2025 | "There was a huge kind of turnaround in his position internationally."
Trump was "positive and chummy" in a press conference with Saudi Arabia leader MBS despite the questions turning to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, says White House Correspondent for Reuters Jeff Mason.
Trump was "positive and chummy" in a press conference with Saudi Arabia leader MBS despite the questions turning to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, says White House Correspondent for Reuters Jeff Mason.
Inside Trump and Mohammed bin Salman’s Relationship: ‘They’re Soulmates’
Nov 19, 2025 | “Trump's response to that reporter was a terrible slur, and a major statement about what's going on in America right now.”
After President Trump welcomed the Saudi crown prince to the White House and defended him over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, editor of Arab Digest Bill Law says it points to the two leaders being "soulmates".
After President Trump welcomed the Saudi crown prince to the White House and defended him over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, editor of Arab Digest Bill Law says it points to the two leaders being "soulmates".
Trump's 'Piggy' Comment to Journalist a Sign of His 'Unease'
Nov 19, 2025 | “The optics are all very strange.”
Trump seems “very uneasy at the moment” after he calls a journalist ‘piggy’ in response to her question about Epstein, says The Times’s Ben Clatworthy.
Trump seems “very uneasy at the moment” after he calls a journalist ‘piggy’ in response to her question about Epstein, says The Times’s Ben Clatworthy.
États-Unis : JD Vance condamné pour avoir menacé de mort... JD Vance, le vice-président
LE FIGARO : Un homme du Michigan portant le même nom que le vice-président des États-Unis a été condamné lundi pour avoir proféré des menaces de mort contre Donald Trump et JD Vance sur les réseaux sociaux.
Un Américain de 67 ans répondant au nom de JD Vance a été condamné lundi à deux ans de prison par un tribunal du Michigan pour avoir menacé de tuer Donald Trump, le vice-président JD Vance et l’un des enfants du président des États-Unis sur le réseau social Bluesky. L’affaire a pris une tournure ironique du fait que le condamné partage les mêmes initiales et le même patronyme que le vice-président qu’il menaçait. » | Par Ségolène Forgar | mercredi 19 novembre 2025
Un Américain de 67 ans répondant au nom de JD Vance a été condamné lundi à deux ans de prison par un tribunal du Michigan pour avoir menacé de tuer Donald Trump, le vice-président JD Vance et l’un des enfants du président des États-Unis sur le réseau social Bluesky. L’affaire a pris une tournure ironique du fait que le condamné partage les mêmes initiales et le même patronyme que le vice-président qu’il menaçait. » | Par Ségolène Forgar | mercredi 19 novembre 2025
Cryptomonnaie $Libra : une «escroquerie présumée» de Javier Milei, selon une commission parlementaire argentine
LE FIGARO : Les députés d’opposition estiment que la promotion de ce projet d’actif numérique a pu être orchestrée par le président argentin pour générer des gains sur certains portefeuilles et renvoie le dossier au parlement.
Nouveau rebondissement dans l’affaire de promotion illégale d’une cryptomonnaie qui vise le président argentin. Une commission d'enquête parlementaire, présidée par l'opposition à Javier Milei, a rendu mardi 18 novembre son rapport sur l'affaire d'une cryptomonnaie que le président avait promue sur X en février, concluant à une «escroquerie présumée». La commission de la chambre des députés, au pouvoir toutefois limité, estime dans son rapport que «les faits analysés pourraient être compatibles avec une escroquerie présumée», et «une responsabilité politique de Javier Milei et de Karina Milei», sa sœur et secrétaire générale de la présidence. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 19 novembre 2025
Nouveau rebondissement dans l’affaire de promotion illégale d’une cryptomonnaie qui vise le président argentin. Une commission d'enquête parlementaire, présidée par l'opposition à Javier Milei, a rendu mardi 18 novembre son rapport sur l'affaire d'une cryptomonnaie que le président avait promue sur X en février, concluant à une «escroquerie présumée». La commission de la chambre des députés, au pouvoir toutefois limité, estime dans son rapport que «les faits analysés pourraient être compatibles avec une escroquerie présumée», et «une responsabilité politique de Javier Milei et de Karina Milei», sa sœur et secrétaire générale de la présidence. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 19 novembre 2025
Autriche : une mère et sa fille syriennes retrouvées mortes dans un congélateur seize mois après leur disparition
LE FIGARO : Deux hommes sont soupçonnés d’être à l’origine de ce double homicide et ont été placés en détention provisoire. Ils auraient dissimulé les corps de la mère et de sa fille dans des congélateurs, dans un appartement d’Innsbruck.
En Autriche, une affaire de disparition qui durait depuis plus d’un an a pris un tournant macabre. Une femme de 34 ans et sa fille de 10 ans, toutes deux de nationalité syrienne, ont été retrouvées mortes dans des congélateurs dissimulés derrière une cloison en plaques de plâtre dans un appartement d’Innsbruck. Les deux victimes n’avaient plus donné signe de vie depuis juillet 2024. » | Par Louise Dugast | mercredi 19 novembre 2025
En Autriche, une affaire de disparition qui durait depuis plus d’un an a pris un tournant macabre. Une femme de 34 ans et sa fille de 10 ans, toutes deux de nationalité syrienne, ont été retrouvées mortes dans des congélateurs dissimulés derrière une cloison en plaques de plâtre dans un appartement d’Innsbruck. Les deux victimes n’avaient plus donné signe de vie depuis juillet 2024. » | Par Louise Dugast | mercredi 19 novembre 2025
The Saudification of America Is Under Way
THE GUARDIAN: Jamal Khashoggi’s plight and murder was a warning sign for the US, of the impending loss of freedom and censorship that would sweep the country
The first time I ever used the words “alhumdulilah”, which translates to praise be to God in Arabic, was the night of 16 November 2018. A Friday night news alert came through on my phone: “CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination.” I collapsed into my couch, repeating the words.
I am not Muslim. But Jamal, in life and death, has taught me a lot about faith and looking for hope in all the wrong places. As a writer with a history of criticizing America’s meddling in weaker countries, in normal circumstances, I should have been loath to celebrate the CIA.
But given that, a month before, a group of Saudi hitmen not only kidnapped my friend and writer from a consulate in Istanbul but allegedly cut his body into pieces, I might have been forgiven for looking for any hope that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, would face consequences – cutting off leaders who think nothing of cutting up human beings should be a basic tenet of any healthy country’s foreign policy. (Prince Mohammed has denied any involvement or responsibility for Khashoggi’s killing.)
This week, seven years almost to the day since the CIA announced the crown prince’s responsibility in the murder, Mohammed bin Salman returns to Washington, invited for an offical visit by America’s Temu pharaoh, Donald Trump. The reconciliation between Trump and MBS was perhaps inevitable, given that even before the first Trump presidency, Trump spoke often of his love for the Saudis and their wealth. (“I get along great with all of them; they buy apartments from me. They spend $40m, $50m,” he quipped in 2015. “Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much!”) » | Karen Attiah | Tuesday, November 18, 2025
The first time I ever used the words “alhumdulilah”, which translates to praise be to God in Arabic, was the night of 16 November 2018. A Friday night news alert came through on my phone: “CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination.” I collapsed into my couch, repeating the words.
I am not Muslim. But Jamal, in life and death, has taught me a lot about faith and looking for hope in all the wrong places. As a writer with a history of criticizing America’s meddling in weaker countries, in normal circumstances, I should have been loath to celebrate the CIA.
But given that, a month before, a group of Saudi hitmen not only kidnapped my friend and writer from a consulate in Istanbul but allegedly cut his body into pieces, I might have been forgiven for looking for any hope that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, would face consequences – cutting off leaders who think nothing of cutting up human beings should be a basic tenet of any healthy country’s foreign policy. (Prince Mohammed has denied any involvement or responsibility for Khashoggi’s killing.)
This week, seven years almost to the day since the CIA announced the crown prince’s responsibility in the murder, Mohammed bin Salman returns to Washington, invited for an offical visit by America’s Temu pharaoh, Donald Trump. The reconciliation between Trump and MBS was perhaps inevitable, given that even before the first Trump presidency, Trump spoke often of his love for the Saudis and their wealth. (“I get along great with all of them; they buy apartments from me. They spend $40m, $50m,” he quipped in 2015. “Am I supposed to dislike them? I like them very much!”) » | Karen Attiah | Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Once a Pariah, Saudi Prince Resets U.S. Relations on His Own Terms
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Seven years ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman couldn’t visit Washington. When he arrived at the White House on Tuesday, he got F-35s, the world’s fastest chips and the central role in the remaking of the Middle East.
Seven years after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was effectively banished from Washington after the murder of a prominent Saudi dissident, he returned on Tuesday to a welcome meant to signal that he sat at the center of President Trump’s effort to build a new Middle East.
It was, perhaps, the most astounding geopolitical restoration of modern times. The de facto leader of the largest and richest of the Arab states, who President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said should be treated as a “pariah” six years ago, reset relations on his own terms.
The crown prince got a commitment from Mr. Trump for F-35 stealth fighters, over Israel’s objections. At the same time, he managed to push off, most likely for years, any discussion of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords and recognizing the Jewish state.
“We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we also want to be sure that we secure a clear path of a two-state solution,” Prince Mohammed said in the Oval Office, uttering the phrase he knew that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would reject outright, as would much of the rest of Israel’s political establishment.
“We want peace with the Israelis,” he insisted. “We want peace with the Palestinians, we want them to coexist peacefully.”
Then, with the traditional business of the past 75 years of Middle East diplomacy pushed aside, Prince Mohammed uttered the words he knew his host wanted to hear, promising upward of a trillion dollars in purchases and investments in the United States — more than the size of his country’s sovereign wealth fund. (The crown prince carefully avoided saying over what period of time the investments would be made, recognizing that the president sought a big dollar figure, whether it was realistic or not.) » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has covered five American presidents in more than four decades as a Times correspondent. He writes often on the tensions among superpowers, the subject of his latest book. | Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Seven years after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was effectively banished from Washington after the murder of a prominent Saudi dissident, he returned on Tuesday to a welcome meant to signal that he sat at the center of President Trump’s effort to build a new Middle East.
It was, perhaps, the most astounding geopolitical restoration of modern times. The de facto leader of the largest and richest of the Arab states, who President Joseph R. Biden Jr. said should be treated as a “pariah” six years ago, reset relations on his own terms.
The crown prince got a commitment from Mr. Trump for F-35 stealth fighters, over Israel’s objections. At the same time, he managed to push off, most likely for years, any discussion of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords and recognizing the Jewish state.
“We want to be part of the Abraham Accords, but we also want to be sure that we secure a clear path of a two-state solution,” Prince Mohammed said in the Oval Office, uttering the phrase he knew that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would reject outright, as would much of the rest of Israel’s political establishment.
“We want peace with the Israelis,” he insisted. “We want peace with the Palestinians, we want them to coexist peacefully.”
Then, with the traditional business of the past 75 years of Middle East diplomacy pushed aside, Prince Mohammed uttered the words he knew his host wanted to hear, promising upward of a trillion dollars in purchases and investments in the United States — more than the size of his country’s sovereign wealth fund. (The crown prince carefully avoided saying over what period of time the investments would be made, recognizing that the president sought a big dollar figure, whether it was realistic or not.) » | David E. Sanger | David E. Sanger has covered five American presidents in more than four decades as a Times correspondent. He writes often on the tensions among superpowers, the subject of his latest book. | Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Trump’s Unflinching Support for Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Wake of Jamal Khashoggi's Murder
ANTHONY DAVIS can be supported on Patreon here.
It is difficult to tell who is brazener: MBS or Trump? Further, with all this money flowing in from Saudi Arabia (if it materialises), watch out for the Islamization of the USA by stealth! Beware America! Saudis’ generosity comes at a cost. — © Mark Alexander
Trump Lauds Saudi Prince in Lavish Visit, Brushing Off Journalist’s Killing
THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump rejected a U.S. intelligence report finding that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the murder of a journalist.
A screenshot taken from this article. | President Trump and Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince and prime minister of Saudi Arabia, in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Credit...Kenny Holston/The New York Times
President Trump welcomed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s autocratic leader, to the White House on Tuesday, hailing him as a protector of human rights and a frequent phone friend. And in a remarkable Oval Office outburst, Mr. Trump defended him against a U.S. intelligence report that he had ordered the murder of a journalist.
It was a chummy scene that underscored the president’s desire to maintain strong relations with Saudi Arabia during a tumultuous period in the Middle East. Mr. Trump’s defense of his guest obscured the crown prince’s role in cracking down on domestic dissent and in the killing and dismemberment of a Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, in 2018.
“We’ve been really good friends for a long period of time,” Mr. Trump told reporters, cabinet officials and members of the Saudi delegation who had gathered there. “We’ve always been on the same side of every issue.”
The 42-minute appearance contained plenty of talk about business deals and diplomatic partnerships, as well as a presidential fit over pointed questions from reporters that was striking even for Mr. Trump, who is no stranger to televised dramatics. As he berated a reporter for asking about Mr. Khashoggi’s murder and about people who have accused the Saudi government of supporting the hijackers behind the Sept. 11 attacks, Mr. Trump brushed off the killing, appearing even more agitated about the question than his guest of honor. » | Katie Rogers | Reporting from Washington | Published: Tuesday, November 18, 3035. Updated: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
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President Trump welcomed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s autocratic leader, to the White House on Tuesday, hailing him as a protector of human rights and a frequent phone friend. And in a remarkable Oval Office outburst, Mr. Trump defended him against a U.S. intelligence report that he had ordered the murder of a journalist.
It was a chummy scene that underscored the president’s desire to maintain strong relations with Saudi Arabia during a tumultuous period in the Middle East. Mr. Trump’s defense of his guest obscured the crown prince’s role in cracking down on domestic dissent and in the killing and dismemberment of a Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, in 2018.
“We’ve been really good friends for a long period of time,” Mr. Trump told reporters, cabinet officials and members of the Saudi delegation who had gathered there. “We’ve always been on the same side of every issue.”
The 42-minute appearance contained plenty of talk about business deals and diplomatic partnerships, as well as a presidential fit over pointed questions from reporters that was striking even for Mr. Trump, who is no stranger to televised dramatics. As he berated a reporter for asking about Mr. Khashoggi’s murder and about people who have accused the Saudi government of supporting the hijackers behind the Sept. 11 attacks, Mr. Trump brushed off the killing, appearing even more agitated about the question than his guest of honor. » | Katie Rogers | Reporting from Washington | Published: Tuesday, November 18, 3035. Updated: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
阅读简体中文版 »
閱讀繁體中文版 »
Click here to watch the video.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
‘Things Happen’: Trump Brushes Off the Murder of Khashoggi
THE NEW YORK TIMES: A reporter asked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. President Trump interjected.
“Things happen.”
That was how President Trump described the murder of the columnist Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday afternoon while sitting beside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi ruler whom the C.I.A. believes approved the killing.
In an Oval Office meeting full of news-making moments, that comment by Mr. Trump was perhaps the most astonishing one, and it came just a few moments after he opened up the room to questions.
It was the ABC News journalist Mary Bruce who asked about the finding by U.S. intelligence officials that Prince Mohammed had ordered the killing of Mr. Khashoggi. “Your royal highness,” she said, turning to Prince Mohammed, “the U.S. intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist. 9/11 families are furious that you are here in the Oval Office. Why should Americans trust—”
At that moment, the president cut in, his voice vibrating with anger.
“Who are you with?” he demanded to know. » | Shawn McCreesh | Reporting from Washington | Tuesday,November 18, 2025
Related links here.
“Things happen.”
That was how President Trump described the murder of the columnist Jamal Khashoggi on Tuesday afternoon while sitting beside Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi ruler whom the C.I.A. believes approved the killing.
In an Oval Office meeting full of news-making moments, that comment by Mr. Trump was perhaps the most astonishing one, and it came just a few moments after he opened up the room to questions.
It was the ABC News journalist Mary Bruce who asked about the finding by U.S. intelligence officials that Prince Mohammed had ordered the killing of Mr. Khashoggi. “Your royal highness,” she said, turning to Prince Mohammed, “the U.S. intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist. 9/11 families are furious that you are here in the Oval Office. Why should Americans trust—”
At that moment, the president cut in, his voice vibrating with anger.
“Who are you with?” he demanded to know. » | Shawn McCreesh | Reporting from Washington | Tuesday,November 18, 2025
Related links here.
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