Biden’s effort to tout progress in Saudi relationship overshadowed by Khashoggi killing

US President Joe Biden speaks to the travelling press after taking part in a working session with Saudi Arabias Crown Prince at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, on July 15, 2022.

The kingdom's human rights abuses overshadowed all other topics after several highly criticized meetings with Saudi Arabia's royalty.

After months of quiet diplomacy, Biden's team accomplished " significant business" in Jeddah. According to the president, Saudi Arabia and Israel have taken steps towards normalized relations.

During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Biden talked about oil supply and the high gas prices in the US. Countering China's influence in the region is one topic of discussion.

Hours after the president fist bumped the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Biden gave a speech from the kingdom. Biden wanted to showcase the policy progress that he had made.

The crown prince ordered the murder of the journalist. He denied involvement in the dismemberment of the journalist.

At the beginning of his meeting with the crown prince, Biden said he raised human rights.

Biden said that being silent on the issue of human rights is not compatible with who he is. The president said that the crown prince told him that he had nothing to do with the disappearance and murder of the journalist.

When he was a presidential candidate, Biden said that he wanted to make Saudi Arabia a pariah.

Biden said that what happened to the journalist was out of line.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fist bumps U.S. President Joe Biden upon his arrival at Al Salman Palace, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 15, 2022.

Biden wrote an article for The Washington Post justifying his trip to Saudi Arabia.

Biden wrote that he wanted to reorient relations with a country that had been a strategic partner for 80 years.

Many people disagree with the president's decision to go to Saudi Arabia. When I travel abroad, my views on human rights are always on the agenda, just as they will be in Israel and the West Bank.

Fred Ryan, publisher of the Washington Post, said in a statement that Biden's fistbump "projected a level of intimacy and comfort that delivers to the unwarranted redemption he has been desperately seeking."

Hatice Cengiz shared a picture of Biden and the prince with a message from the prince. Is this what you promised for my death? It is on your hands.

Biden apologized to the woman who felt that way.

She feels that way. Back then, I was easy to understand. Biden said he was simple.

Saudi Arabia is a major strategic partner for the U.S. The kingdom was spared from reprisals over the death of the journalist.