• Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan urged President Donald Trump against trusting the Saudi Arabian government as it denies having any involvement in the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• “Let’s remember, this is the same King Salman who told me after 9/11 that the 9/11 attacks were an Israeli plot,” Jordan told CNN.
• Trump over the past several days has repeatedly touted denials from the king and crown prince over Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan on Monday urged President Donald Trump against trusting the Saudi Arabian government as it denies having any involvement in the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Jordan said that King Salman, the kingdom’s current monarch, once told him the September 11, 2001, terror attacks were an Israeli plot, a seeming effort to downplay that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals.

“Let’s remember, this is the same King Salman who told me after 9/11 that the 9/11 attacks were an Israeli plot,” Jordan told CNN. “He said that firmly. Did I believe that? Of course not. I don’t think you can go in with wide-eyed acceptance of anything some of these world leaders say.”

Jordan said he believes there is reason to “worry” Trump may be giving a “pass” to the Saudis regarding Khashoggi’s fate.