Trump Welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Amid Controversy: Bernie Sanders Criticizes Presidential Double Standard on Muslims

US President Donald Trump organized an elaborate welcome ceremony for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his Washington visit, featuring a security agreement including warplanes and publicly defending the prince against allegations regarding journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death.

The lavish reception promptly sparked criticism. Senator Bernie Sanders condemned Trump's approach, suggesting the president favors wealthy authoritarian leaders while generally expressing antipathy toward Muslims. "Trump dislikes Muslims, except those who are billionaire autocrats who can make his family even richer," Sanders wrote on X, commenting on how Mohammed bin Salman transitioned from international pariah to honored White House guest.

This represents the crown prince's first American visit since 2018, when Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and vocal critic of Saudi human rights practices, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The incident severely damaged Saudi-US relations and provoked worldwide censure.

Nevertheless, Trump welcomed the crown prince with extraordinary pageantry including F-35 stealth jet flybys, ceremonial cannon salutes, mounted soldiers on parade, and an elaborate South Lawn dining event.

When questioned by a reporter about his family's Saudi business connections and the crown prince's alleged involvement in Khashoggi's murder, Trump responded angrily. He called the journalist "one of the worst in the business," scolded the reporter for "embarrassing our guest" and claimed, "My family has done very little with Saudi Arabia. He's (Prince) done a phenomenal job... He knew nothing about [Khashoggi]."

Mohammed bin Salman described the killing as "painful" and "a huge mistake," asserting that Saudi authorities had subsequently strengthened investigative procedures to prevent similar occurrences.

Trump's previous interactions regarding Muslims have been controversial. Upon assuming office in 2017, he implemented a travel restriction affecting seven predominantly Muslim countries, causing airport disruption and widespread demonstrations.

In a 2016 CNN interview, Trump stated, "I think Islam hates us," suggesting "there's a tremendous hatred there." He also proposed mosque surveillance and temporarily barring foreign Muslim entry "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on."

During a Fox Business interview following terrorist attacks in Brussels, he remarked, "we're having problems with the Muslims," arguing, "You need surveillance, you have to deal with the mosques whether we like it or not."