How Biden administration’s attitude toward Saudi Arabia is changing

A U.S. intelligence report out today confirms what Joe Biden, when he was a presidential candidate, said more than a year ago. He said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS) signed off on the plan to assassinate Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Now Biden will have to deal with Saudi Arabia, and it’ll be a different relationship than the one former President Trump had. Unlike Trump, Biden’s refusing to talk to MBS directly, even though he’s the de facto ruler of the kingdom.

Biden spoke Thursday on the phone with the official leader, Mohammed bin Salman’s father, King Salman.

More: New York Times: Biden Won’t Penalize Saudi Crown Prince Over Khashoggi’s Killing, Fearing Relations Breach

Credits

Guest:

  • David Sanger - Pulitzer Prize-winning White House and national security correspondent for the New York Times, author of “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend The West” - @SangerNYT

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Angie Perrin, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Rosalie Atkinson, Brian Hardzinski, Bennett Purser