Journalists around the world have criticized President Joe Biden’s seemingly friendly interactions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his trip to the Middle East last week, a move that appears to minimize the importance of protecting reporters.
The Saudi government is believed to have ordered the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Speaking on Greater Boston, Washington Post opinion columnist Karen Attiah said Biden's visit gave the crown prince a chance to be rehabilitated on the world stage.
"I think it sends a very chilling message to journalists around the world and also to U.S. citizens and residents," she said.
Attiah was a colleague of Khashoggi.
"He was a gem of a human being honestly. I think what people need to undertsand is that he loved Saudi Arabia ... he wasn't out to cause the downfall of the regime even, he just had minor criticisms of Mohammed bin Salman."
Watch: A fist bump too far? Journalists debate President Biden’s Saudi Arabia trip
