Post Reports Why the U.S. won't quit Saudi Arabia
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Nov 19, 2025 
Michael Birnbaum, White House correspondent for The Washington Post, shares insightful analysis of U.S.-Saudi relations. He discusses the lavish welcome given to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the stark contrast to the backlash following Jamal Khashoggi's murder. Birnbaum explores the geopolitical pressures that maintain ties with Saudi Arabia, as well as potential personal and business connections between Trump and the crown prince. The conversation covers defense deals, the investment landscape, and MBS's push to reshape Saudi Arabia's image through culture and sports.
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MBS: Modernizer With A Repressive Edge
- Mohammed bin Salman is the de facto leader and a younger, reform-minded yet repressive figure in Saudi Arabia.
- He mixes social liberalization with harsh repression of critics like Jamal Khashoggi.
Intelligence Basis And Saudi Denial
- U.S. intelligence relied on multiple sources, including an audio recording, to conclude MBS's role in Khashoggi's killing.
- Saudi officials never accepted responsibility and blamed lower-level actors instead.
Congressional Fury Versus Geopolitical Reality
- Congress reacted angrily after Khashoggi's murder, passing measures that strained U.S.-Saudi ties.
- Yet geopolitics and energy needs later drove presidents to restore working relations with Riyadh.