Donald Trump: Saudi cover-up of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder was ‘one of WORST’ in history

Trump made his damning comments while singing a bill in the Oval Office along with several members of Congress.

While he said he would leave it up to Congress to determine how to respond to the recent developments, he referred to Mr Khashoggi’s assassination as a “very bad idea” that “should have never been thought of”.

The President said: “They had a very bad original concept.

“It was carried out poorly, and the cover-up was one of the worst in the history of cover-ups.

“Very simple. Bad deal, should have never been thought of.”

Despite these comments, Trump added that he was still waiting for all of the facts.

He said: “I think I’ll know everything in a short period of time.

“I want to see the facts first.”

CIA director Gina Haspel travelled to Turkey earlier this week and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the country along with Saudi arabica on a fact-finding mission.

On Tuesday, Mr Pompeo said the US will revoke the visas of the individuals implicated in the killing of Mr Khashoggi.

Trump has been reluctant to criticise Saudi Arabia or its Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman over fears he would be forced to terminate a $110billion (£84.8bllion) arms deal that the President claims will bring the US a million jobs.

Trump said: “We do that, we’re just hurting ourselves.

“It is a terrible thing, but it would really be hurting ourselves.”

Democratic Senator and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin was in the Oval Office with Trump and added that Congress was looking into various options it could use to punish Saudi Arabia, including sanctions.

Senator Cardin said: “There is a growing group of Senators, both Democrats and Republicans, who recognise how serious this is, and it will have consequences in regards to our relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“I think Congress is going to demand that there will be appropriate action.”