Snippy Biden Defends Human Rights Views ‘Positively Clear’ Ahead Of Saudi Visit

Topline

President Joe Biden got defensive Thursday while justifying his first presidential trip to Saudi Arabia, as he wobbles on an impossibly thin tightrope to not backtrack on his promise to punish the Saudi government for its alleged ordering of the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi while also trying to desperately bring down domestic gas prices and exert American influence in the Middle East.

Key Facts

“My views on Khashoggi have been absolutely, positively clear and I have never been quiet about talking about human rights,” Biden said during a joint press conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Biden’s comments come a day before his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of a summit with other Gulf Nation leaders, a seeming break from his 2019 promise to make the Saudi government “the pariah that they are” because of the murder of Khashoggi.

Biden continued to say he’s “never been quiet about talking about human rights,” before hinting at his real rationale for the extreme reversal.

By isolating Saudi Arabia the U.S. might “create a vacuum” in the Middle East potentially “filled by both Russia and China,” said Biden, as Saudi Arabia cozies up to the two powers while shunned by the U.S.

Key Background

A U.S. intelligence report released last February found that bin Salman directly approved the murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The White House has been unusually defensive in its release of details of Biden’s Saudi excursion, including an atypical column from Biden in the Washington Post last week titled, “Why I’m going to Saudi Arabia.” Many believe Biden’s visit will largely focus on lobbying for Saudi Arabia to spearhead increased oil production from OPEC nations. Crude oil prices have skyrocketed since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, contributing to sky high U.S. gas prices, which have contributed to Biden’s plunging approval numbers.

Surprising Fact

Biden’s Saudi visit comes as the Saudi government seeks to refresh its international image in an unusual way: golf. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund is the chief source of funding for LIV Golf, a new PGA Tour competitor that has brought over several star American golfers.

Further Reading

Biden’s Saudi Lesson: The Only Path Runs Through M.B.S. (New York Times)

Biden to Visit a Saudi Arabia That Is Closer to Russia Than Ever (Wall Street Journal)

Biden heads to Saudi Arabia amid discomfort and criticism (Washington Post)