With renewed attention on Jamal Khashoggi’s 2018 killing, a Virginia congressman is asking President Donald Trump to release the transcript of Trump’s 2019 phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., held a press conference Friday, where he claimed he reviewed the 2019 call while serving on the White House National Security Council and wants the transcript made public.
Vindman has said only two calls with foreign leaders stood out as especially concerning during his tenure. One was the Ukraine call that later became public. The other was Trump’s call with the Crown Prince.
Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and journalist, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that the operation was approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In a letter released Thursday, Vindman and 37 other lawmakers asked Trump to release the full transcript of the call.
The lawmakers wrote that Americans “deserve answers regarding your communications with the Crown Prince, as well as any promises, favors or commitments exchanged during the conversation.”
The letter also cited the U.S. intelligence findings that the Crown Prince approved the killing.
“We recognize that U.S. national security sometimes requires engaging with governments and leaders whose values do not align with our own. However, such engagement does not require forming personal alliances with authoritarian figures,” the letter stated.
“Whether dealing with Chairman Kim Jong Un, President Vladimir Putin, or President Xi Jinping, presidents must navigate complex relationships. However, doing so in a manner that publicly flatters, defends, or excuses their conduct undermines U.S. credibility and projects weakness on the world stage,” the lawmakers wrote.
Vindman’s request comes after Trump faced new questions this week about his recent comments on Khashoggi’s death. An ABC News reporter asked Trump about the intelligence assessment and whether his family’s business activities created a conflict of interest.
Trump defended the crown prince and described Khashoggi as “very controversial,” adding, “things happen” when asked about the murder.
Khashoggi’s widow, Hanan Altar Khashoggi, now lives in Arlington and joined Vindman at the event. She described years of surveillance and situations she faced abroad before fleeing to the United States, where she was granted political asylum in 2023.
“There is no justification to kidnap him, to torture him, to kill him, and to cut him to pieces. This is a terrorist act,” she said.
She asked Congress to help secure the transcript of the 2019 call and said transparency is important for understanding what happened to her husband.
During the question period, Vindman was asked whether releasing the call transcript could lead to a future impeachment effort. He said it was too early to talk about impeachment and that he was focused on facts, evidence and transparency.
Rep. Jamie Raskin also addressed reporters. He criticized Trump’s “things happen” response and said releasing the transcript would give the public a clearer view of Trump’s conversations with the crown prince. He said making the call public could also provide closure for Khashoggi’s widow.
Vindman said he will continue pressing for the transcript so the public can see what was discussed on the call.
