President Joe Biden enters his final day in Saudi Arabia
President Biden left for his first Middle East trip as president this week, with stops in Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia.
Coverage for this event has ended.
"I didn't hear that particular phrase," Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News' Alex Hogan after Biden's trip to the region had concluded. "The President mentioned that the US is committed to human rights because since the founding fathers wrote the constitution and he also made the point that American presidents -- this is part of the agenda of every American president."
Biden told reporters on Friday that he had told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that he believed the Saudi leader was responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's murder in 2018.
"With respect to the murder of Khashoggi, I raised it at the top of the meeting, making it clear what I thought of it at the time and what I think about it now," Biden told reporters.
Biden added, "He basically said that he was not personally responsible for it. I indicated that he was, and he said he was not personally responsible for it and he took action against those who were responsible."
Former U.S. Amb. Nikki Haley to the U.N. weighs in on President Biden's foreign policy and Middle East trip on 'One Nation with Brian Kilmeade.'
'The Big Weekend Show' panelists react to backlash surrounding President Biden's fist bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Manhattan Institute adjunct fellow Judy Miller reacts to President Biden discussing human rights issues with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during trip to Saudi Arabia.
President Biden urged Middle East leaders to embrace freedom to "unleash the full potential" of their countries but pointed out that citizens being able to criticize their leaders is sometimes "not fun."
"Foundational freedoms are foundational to who we are as Americans," Biden said Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the GCC+3 Summit Meeting. "It’s in our DNA. But it’s also because we know that the future will be won by the countries that unleash the full potential of their populations, where women can exercise equal rights and contribute to building stronger economies, resilient societies, and more modern and capable militaries; where citizens can question and criticize their leaders without fear of reprisal."
Biden continued, "I’ve gotten plenty of criticism over the years. It’s not fun. But the ability to speak openly and exchange ideas freely is what unlocks innovation."
Click here to read more on Fox News
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-NY, questioned the logic behind President Biden's roundtrip through the Middle East, drawing focus to the ironically huge energy waste involved.
"The carbon emissions, by the way, that go with it to beg Saudi Arabia to produce more oil when you can do it right here in the United States, my colleagues and I all week have been saying," Malliotakis said on Fox News Live.
She instead urged Biden to "visit Texas, visit Oklahoma, visit New Mexico" instead of flying halfway around the world to try and seek greater oil production.
"We can be energy independent," she argued. "We can once again be a net exporter like we were under President Trump. There is still capacity."
President Biden reaffirmed the U.S. partnership and commitment to work with the Middle East as Saudi Arabia announces it will increase its oil production.
"The U.S. is going to remain an active partner in the Middle East as the world grows more competitive," Biden told reporters on Saturday in Jeddah. "It’s only becoming clearer to me how closely woven America’s interests are with successes in the Middle East. We will not walk away to leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran."
He added, "We will seek to build on this moment with active, principled, American leadership."
Click here to read more.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at Kansai airport in Izumisano city, Osaka prefecture, on June 27, 2019 ahead of the G20 Osaka Summit. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo credit should read CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman says Saudi Arabia is almost tapped out on increasing oil production.
The Saudi prince said that they will not have the capacity to produce beyond 13 million barrels per day.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, the country is currently producing approximately 10,211,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Biden spoke to a wide audience of Middle Eastern leaders Saturday on the final day of his international trip to the region.
The president made a firm promise to the audience that Iran would never develop and maintain a nuclear weapon.
Biden promised to intervene and work towards peace and cooperation not only in the Middle East, but worldwide whenever possible.
He also vowed to enforce human rights as outlined by the United Nations.
President Biden invited Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates to visit the United States this year.
Biden has taken a casual, friendly tone with world leaders on his international trip to the Middle East. Biden fist-bumped Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed bin Salman in their initial greeting yesterday.
The White House released a statement sharing the details of Saturday's bilateral meeting between President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi.
"During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the strong bilateral partnership between Iraq and the United States under the Strategic Framework Agreement and their determination to continue security coordination to ensure that ISIS can never resurge," the White House said.
In the statement, the White House said Biden and Al-Kadhimi "consulted on a range of regional issues."
"The leaders agreed that the relationship between the U.S. and Iraq is based on a shared interest in Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and stability and committed to bolstering the bilateral partnership for the benefit of their two nations," the statement added.
The two leaders also "reaffirmed the importance of forming a new Iraqi government responsive to the will of the Iraqi people and their respect for Iraq’s democracy and independence."
Biden emphasized the importance of a "stable, united, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq."
The U.S. says Russian officials visited an Iranian airfield multiple times in recent weeks to view attack-capable drones it is looking to obtain for its attack against Ukraine.
Iran showed the drones to Russian officials at Kashan Airfield on June 8 and July 15, the White House said. The Biden administration has published satellite imagery showing Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones flying at the airfield at the same time a Russian delegation transport plane was on the ground.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced the administration's findings.
The administration has "information that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with several hundred UAVs," Sullivan said in a statement.
For more on the story, click here: US says Russian officials visited Iran to view drones for war against Ukraine
US President Joe Biden (C-R) and Secretary of State Antony Blinken (3rd-R) meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhemi (C-L), Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (2nd-L), and other officials during a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 16, 2022. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
On Saturday, President Joe Biden will spend his last day in Saudi Arabia meeting with leaders of Iraq, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Biden began the day in Saudi Arabia meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, where the two leaders discussed the Iraqi democracy.
“I want the press and you to know we want to be (as) helpful as we can in doing that,” Biden said.
The two leaders also discussed the “strategic, friendly relationship” between the U.S. and Iraq.
Biden is scheduled to have meetings with Egyptian President El Sisi and Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates.
Other leaders attending the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) takes part in a working session with the US President Joe Biden (3-L) at the Al Salam Royal Palace in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, on July 15, 2022. - US President Joe Biden landed in Saudi Arabia, sealing a retreat from his campaign pledge to turn the kingdom into a "pariah" over its human rights record (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
On Friday, President Joe Biden arrived in Saudi Arabia, where he met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Said at the Al Salam Royal Palace. He also met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Ministers.
"At the end of this meeting, the two sides issued this communique outlining the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States over the coming decades with the aim of advancing their mutual interests and advancing a common vision for a more peaceful, secure, prosperous, and stable Middle East," the White House said.
"The two sides underscored the importance of strategic economic and investment cooperation, particularly in light of the current crisis in Ukraine and its consequences, and reaffirmed their commitment to a stable global energy market," the White House added.
Biden also said Saudi Arabia would be increasing its oil production to offset the global shortage prompted by the Ukraine-Russia War.
Fires are seen following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city on July 16, 2022. - Israeli warplanes struck a weapons manufacturing facility in the Gaza Strip early on July 16, the military said, after rocket fire against Israeli territory. The exchange of fire came hours after US President Joe Biden visited Israel and the occupied West Bank. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Israeli Defense Forces shared a series of tweets confirming at least two rockets were fired as President Joe Biden continues his Mideast trip.
"Sirens sounding in southern Israel," read an initial tweet. A subsequent video showed the moment the IDF missile defense system shot one rocket out of the air.
The IDF said it has responded to the rocket attack, targeting a Hamas rocket production site.
"In response to the rockets fired from Gaza at Israel tonight, we targeted one of Hamas' most significant rocket production sites in Gaza," the IDF said. "This strike will significantly impede Hamas' force-building capabilities."
The IDF added: "We will continue to defend Israeli civilians from Hamas' terrorism."
President Biden addressed the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi security officials with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who said during their meeting Friday that he is "not personally responsible" for his death.
In a press availability following meetings with the crown prince and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Said, Biden said he discussed human rights issues, including Khashoggi’s death."
He basically said that he was not personally responsible for it," Biden said of MBS. "I indicated that he was, and he said he was not personally responsible for it and he took action against those who were responsible."
Click here to read more.
President Biden laughed when a reporter told him that he was facing "a lot of fire" for greeting Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a fist-bump, and flat out dismissed questions about the possibility of another murder like Khashoggi's.
"What a silly question," Biden said to reporters. "How could I possibly be sure of any of that?"
"I just made it clear if anything occurs like that again there, get that response and much more," he added.
The White House on Friday said Saudi Arabia has committed to increasing oil production in July and August—a move that will help "stabilize markets considerably.
"The commitment from Saudi Arabia came after bilateral meetings between President Biden and administration officials and King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Said and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as Saudi Ministers."
Saudi Arabia has committed to support global oil market balancing for sustained economic growth," the White House said. "We have welcomed the increase in production levels 50 percent above what was planned for July and August."
Click here to read more.
Biden claimed he told MBS he believed the Crown Prince to be responsible for Khashoggi's death and knocked back suggestions that he shared any responsibility for further deaths at the prince's hands.
"I raised it at the top of the meeting, making it clear what I thought of it at the time and what I thought of it now," Biden told reporters in Jeddah. "I made my view crystal clear. I said very straightforwardly: For an American president to remain silent on an issue of human rights would be inconsistent with who we are and who I am. I will always stand up for our values."
Biden told reporters that MBS claimed he was not involved, but the president insisted that he told the prince he believed otherwise.
Biden also reiterated that he did not regret calling the Saudis "a pariah" and that he stands by his previous statements on the matter.
Hatice Cengiz, fiancé of deceased journalist Jamal Khashoggi, posted a mock-up of a tweet that she believes would capture the journalist's feelings on the fist-bump between President Biden and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, accusing the president of hypocrisy.
“What Jamal Khashoggi would tweet today,” her tweet read, accompanied by an image that appears to show a tweet from Khashoggi's account saying, "Hey @POTUS, Is this the accountability you promised for my murder? The blood of MBS’s next victim is on your hands.”
Jamal Khashoggi’s twitter account is not active, and last tweeted in 2018.
Washington Post Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan issued a statement Friday that criticized Biden for appearing to convey "intimacy and comfort" with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
"The first bump between President Biden and Mohammed bin Salman was worse than a handshake – it was shameful," Ryan said. "It projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to MBS the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is asked by a reporter during a meeting with President Biden whether he'll apologize to the family of Jamal Khashoggi.
NBC reporter Peter Alexander claims to have shouted, “Jamal Khashoggi --- will you apologize to his family?” to Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the press pool closed.
Alexander claims Salman smirked before a Saudi attendant grabbed the reporter by the arm.
The Biden administration declassified a report last year blaming Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for approving the operation to capture or kill journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
It was the first time the U.S. government blamed the crown prince for Khashoggi's killing in an official intelligence document.
The president arrived in Jeddah Friday before noon Eastern time at King Abdulaziz International Airport, after what the White House described as a "historic flight" from Israel to Saudi Arabia.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that the flight "follows the monumental decision to open Saudi airspace to all civilian carriers without discrimination, a decision that includes flights to and from Israel."
The president then left the airport for a meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Said at the Al Salam Royal Palace. Later, the president and his team met for a working session with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Ministers. Upon arrival, the president and the crown prince shared a fist-bump. Earlier on his trip, the White House had said due to COVID-19 precautions he would stay away from handshaking, something he seemed to forget.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, during a gaggle Friday, said the president will spend time speaking publicly on the issue of human rights—this, after Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor for the Washington Post, was killed in 2018 by Saudi security officials.
Read more: BIDEN ARRIVES IN SAUDI ARABIA, WILL DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS, 'ENERGY SECURITY,' OFFICIALS SAY
The White House is telling reporters not to expect any major energy announcements today. There was previously speculation that a deal with Saudi Arabia to pump more oil would be announced.
There is no Q&A session scheduled after the meeting between President Biden and Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
President Biden fist-bumps Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia as the two world leaders greet each other.
Biden and Salman will be speaking soon in the Peace Palace.
JERUSALEM, Israel – President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians and announced plans to bolster U.S. financial aid to the Palestinian people, reversing multiple policies implemented by former President Trump.
After spending time with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem, Biden met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other top Palestinian officials before visiting the Church of the Nativity, the place Christians cite as the birthplace of Jesus.
During his comments, the president touched upon his administration’s plans to implement a series of economic and confidence building measures aimed at improving daily life for Palestinian people living in the West Bank and Gaza, but he stopped short of condemning Palestinian terrorism that has hampered peace efforts in the past and sparked countless rounds of violence with Israel.
The president also said the U.S. would increase financial contributions to the controversial U.N. agency, UNRWA, that supports and advocates for Palestinian refugees, adding $200 million to its budget to become the largest donor country.
(L to R) US President Joe Biden and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas deliver statements to the media after their meeting at the Muqataa Presidential Compound in the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank on July 15, 2022. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
President Biden stressed his continued commitment to the two-state solution in a Friday meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.
The Palestinian people deserve a state of their own with an "equal measure of freedom and dignity" as Israel, he said.
He said while the goal of a two-state solution may seem "far away" and Americans can feel the "grief and frustration" of Palestinians, the U.S. will "never give up on the work of peace."
The U.S. "won't give up on trying to bring Israel and Palestine closer together," he added.
He said there "must be an end to the violence" that has devastated "too many families."
Iranian military spokesperson Shakarchi says US President Biden will "pay the price" after saying he would use force as "last resort" to keep Iran from nuclear weapons.
Iranian Armed Forces Spokesman, Brigadier General Abul-Fadl Shakarchi: "The use of the term force against #Iran by the US President and the Prime Minister of the Zionist entity is a psychological war for which the enemy will pay."
Translated From ARABIC: المتحدث باسم القوات المسلحة الإيرانية العميد أبو الفضل شكارتشي: استخدام رئيس أميركا ورئيس وزراء الكيان الصهيوني مصطلح القوة ضد #إيران حرب نفسية سيدفع العدو ثمنها جاده إيران Jadeh Iran @jadehiran
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, at a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem, Thursday, July 14, 2022. (Atef Safadi/Pool via AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Friday thanked President Biden for his visit to Israel this week.
He said that after the leaders signed the “Jerusalem Declaration,” “deepening America’s commitment to Israel’s security, the fight against the Iranian nuclear program and the advancing of normalization initiatives of the Abraham Accords and the Negev Summit,” Saudi Arabia has opened Saudi airspace to Israeli airlines.
“I would like to thank the President of the United States, Joe Biden, for a visit that moved our entire country and for his commitment to Israel’s military and diplomatic strength,” he said.
He wished Biden “success” at the Jeddah summit in Saudi Arabia and thanked Saudi leadership “for the opening of Saudi airspace. This is only the first step. We will continue working with necessary caution, for the sake of Israel’s economy, security and the good of our citizens.”
US President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem on July 15, 2022. - Biden was expected to unveil a "significant funding package" for hospitals in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, which largely support the Palestinian population, the US official said earlier. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
President Biden spoke at Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem Friday morning. The hospital is part of the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which Biden called the “backbone of the Palestinian healthcare system."
Dr. Fadi Atrash, CEO of Augusta Victoria Hospital, introduced Biden and called his visit a "courageous statement of support for the Palestinian people."
The president announced that the U.S. would give an additional $100 million to the hospital system which he said he hoped would ensure its "long-term financial stability."
He added that Israelis and Palestinians both deserve equal measures of "dignity" and said the U.S. will continue to work with Palestinian leadership.
The White House won't say whether President Biden will bring up Jamal Khashoggi's name during meetings with Saudi officials this week, despite Khashoggi's widow saying the administration assured her he would.
Biden will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) Friday following appearances in Israel.
Khashoggi's widow, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, met with White House officials last week, and she told Fox News host Bill Hemmer that they assured her that Khashoggi's name would come up.
"Yes, they did assure me that the human rights issue, and on top of it my husband's tragedy — it will come up," she told Hemmer on Thursday.
President Biden called out members of his own party who believe that Israel is an "apartheid state." during an interview in Israel Wednesday.
Biden was asked to respond to "voices" within the Democratic Party who believe "Israel is an apartheid state" and call for an end of "unconditional aid" to Israel.
Biden said that the "few" voices within the Democratic Party who refer to Israel as an apartheid state are "wrong."
Live Coverage begins here