Former National Security Council official Eugene Vindman is publicly calling for the release of a confidential 2019 phone call between President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The demand centers on a pivotal moment following the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a case that continues to cast a long shadow over U.S.-Saudi relations.
Vindman, a retired Army colonel, revealed the call was one of two that deeply troubled him during his time in the Trump administration. The other involved Ukraine, and ultimately fueled the first impeachment proceedings against the former president. He argues the American public has a right to know the full extent of the conversation, especially given intelligence assessments regarding the Crown Prince’s involvement in Khashoggi’s death.
Standing alongside Khashoggi’s widow, Vindman asserted that Trump prioritized shielding a foreign leader over acknowledging the findings of his own intelligence community. He believes transparency is essential, not only for the grieving family but for the preservation of American credibility on the world stage.
Vindman’s call to action resonates with a history of controversy surrounding his testimony during the Ukraine impeachment inquiry. His and his brother’s reporting were met with fierce opposition from Trump’s allies, who accused them of undermining a duly elected president. This latest demand is viewed by some as a continuation of that political battle.
The timing of Vindman’s statement is particularly significant. Washington’s current embrace of bin Salman highlights a recurring dilemma in U.S. foreign policy: balancing strategic and economic interests against concerns for human rights and accountability. This delicate dance has defined the relationship for decades.
Recent developments underscore this complex dynamic. Despite lingering questions surrounding the 9/11 attacks and Khashoggi’s murder, the Trump administration forged sweeping defense and investment deals with Saudi Arabia. The kingdom was granted major non-NATO ally status, paving the way for increased military cooperation and arms sales.
Bin Salman pledged nearly $1 trillion in new Saudi investments in U.S. industries, including infrastructure and technology. These commitments were coupled with a Strategic Defense Agreement, encompassing purchases of advanced weaponry and joint manufacturing ventures designed to bolster the American industrial base.
During a White House visit, reporters pressed bin Salman on Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in the 9/11 attacks and the Khashoggi killing. While Trump dismissed the questions as an attempt to “embarrass” his guest, the Crown Prince offered a carefully worded expression of regret, while maintaining his denial of direct involvement.
U.S. intelligence assessments paint a starkly different picture. A 2021 report concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation to capture or kill Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul. Despite repeated denials, bin Salman acknowledged in 2019 that the murder occurred “under my watch,” accepting responsibility as a leader.
The question of Saudi involvement in the September 11th terrorist attacks remains a deeply sensitive issue. While 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, the U.S. government has not officially concluded that the Saudi state or its senior officials had prior knowledge of or directed the attacks.
Families of 9/11 victims vehemently condemned bin Salman’s recent invocation of Osama bin Laden during his White House appearance. They argue that bin Laden strategically used Saudi nationals to fracture the U.S.-Saudi relationship, and that the Crown Prince’s comments were a dismissive attempt to rewrite history.
A landmark ruling in August 2025 brought Saudi Arabia under U.S. federal jurisdiction for a 9/11 trial. The court cited evidence of a network of Saudi officials allegedly providing logistical support to the hijackers, suggesting prior planning and coordination. This evidence included a drawing seized from a Saudi operative depicting an airplane with flight-path equations.
Saudi Arabia continues to deny any involvement in the 9/11 attacks, labeling the allegations as false. However, for bin Salman, the families’ unwavering pursuit of justice serves as a potent reminder that the past continues to shape the present, even as the U.S. deepens its partnership with Riyadh.
