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DONALD Trump has slammed criticism of Saudi Arabia as case of "guilty until proven innocent" over the missing journalist death riddle.

The US President defended what he characterised as efforts to condemn Riyadh over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi before all the facts were known.

Donald Trump has criticised rapidly mounting global condemnation of Saudi Arabia over the mystery of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi
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Donald Trump has criticised rapidly mounting global condemnation of Saudi Arabia over the mystery of missing journalist Jamal KhashoggiCredit: AP:Associated Press

Earlier, Trump said the Saudi Crown Prince "denied all knowledge" of Khashoggi's fate after disappearing from the country's consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago.

He also compared the case to the allegations of sexual assault levelled against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing.

Trump said: "I think we have to find out what happened first. Here we go again with, you know, you're guilty until proven innocent.

"I don't like that. We just went through that with Justice Kavanaugh and he was innocent all the way as far as I'm concerned."

Evidence suggests the 59-year-old regime critic was tortured to death, dismembered and smuggled out
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Evidence suggests the 59-year-old regime critic was tortured to death, dismembered and smuggled outCredit: AFP or licensors
The scene outside the Saudi Arabia consul's residence, in Istanbul, on Tuesday night, amid reports the journalist was chopped up inside
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The scene outside the Saudi Arabia consul's residence, in Istanbul, on Tuesday night, amid reports the journalist was chopped up insideCredit: AP:Associated Press
Police officers speak with one another outside the Saudi Arabia consul's residence, in Istanbul, Turkey
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Police officers speak with one another outside the Saudi Arabia consul's residence, in Istanbul, TurkeyCredit: AP:Associated Press

The president said he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman - both deny any knowledge of what happened to Khashoggi.

It comes as a high-level Turkish official said that police investigators searching the Saudi Consulate had found evidence that Khashoggi was killed there.

A source also claimed to have heard a recording from the writer's Apple Watch capturing the moment he was allegedly dragged into a study and surgically dismembered.

The anonymous source said Khashoggi can be heard screaming as he's chopped into pieces while he was still ALIVE in a horrifying seven-minute execution.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Trump he had started an investigation into Khashoggi's fate
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Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Trump he had started an investigation into Khashoggi's fateCredit: EPA
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on TuesdayCredit: EPA
​US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo​ ​meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over​ ​alleged killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

The president said that his own comment on Monday about possible "rogue killers" behind Khashoggi's disappearance was informed by his "feeling" from his conversation with Salman, and that the King did not use the term.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with the king and crown prince in Riyadh yesterday and said later they made a "serious commitment" to hold senior leaders and officials accountable if implicated in Khashoggi's death.

Trump said he hopes the Saudis' own investigation of Khashoggi's disappearance will be concluded in "less than a week."

In the meantime, international leaders and business executives are severing or rethinking ties to the Saudi government after Khashoggi's high-profile disappearance.

Trump has resisted any action, pointing to huge US weapons deals pending with Saudi Arabia and saying that sanctions could hurt end up hurting the American economy.

Missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi may have recorded himself being tortured and hacked to death on his Apple Watch
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Missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi may have recorded himself being tortured and hacked to death on his Apple WatchCredit: AP:Associated Press

 

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He said it was too early to say whether he endorsed other countries' actions.

Trump said: "I have to find out what happened."

The president said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin's trip to attend a Saudi investment conference is still on, but that it could be cancelled by Friday depending on what the investigation finds.

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