Trump Vows "Severe Punishment" If Saudis Are Behind Missing Journalist

During a sit down interview with 60 Minutes scheduled to air on Sunday, President Donald Trump said if the Saudis were behind the disappearance of Saudi journalist behind the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khsahoggi, the U.S. would inflict "severe punishment."

"Jamal Khsahoggi, the Saudi journalist, was he murdered by the Saudis and did the prince give the order to kill him?" Lesley Stahl asked Trump during the interview. 

"Nobody knows yet, but we'll probably be able to find out, it's being investigated, it's being looked at very, very strongly. We would be upset and angry if that were the case," Trump told Stahl.

Trump told 60 Minutes that Saudi officials have denied responsibility having anything to do with Khashoggi's disappearance "in every way you can imagine." Trump added that an investigation into the journalist's disappearance was ongoing and left open the possibility that Saudi Arabia had been responsible. 

"Could it be them? Yes," President Trump said. 

When asked if Trump might pursue any type of punishments against the Saudi regime, the president didn't commit to any specific actions like sanctions or stopping the sales of military equipment. 

"I'll tell you what I don't want to do," Mr. Trump said, "I don't want to hurt jobs. I don't want to lose an order like that. And you know what, there are other ways of punishing."

"There's a lot at stake," Mr. Trump added. "And, maybe especially so because this man was a reporter. There's something, you'll be surprised to hear me say that, there's something really terrible and disgusting about that if that was the case."

Trump's interview with Lesley Stahl which touched on several subjects, is scheduled to be broadcast on 60 Minutes Sunday, Oct. 14. 


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