Senate rebukes Trump, Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi, Yemen war
WASHINGTON — In back-to-back votes against Saudi Arabia, the Senate delivered an unusual rebuke of President Donald Trump’s response to the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and signalled new skepticism from Capitol Hill toward the longtime Middle East ally.
Although the resolutions are largely symbolic — because it’s unclear if they will be considered by the House — their passage Thursday showed senators seeking to assert oversight of Trump administration foreign policy and the relationship with Saudi Arabia.
It also marked the collapse of the Trump administration’s effort in the Senate to contain fallout from the gruesome killing.
But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that while the administration respects the view of the Senate it will not change course in supporting Saudi Arabia. He said the Saudis serve as a bulwark in combating aggression from Iran that threatens the United States, and that Trump would not relent on policies aimed at protecting Americans. Pompeo noted that the U.S. has taken action against some Saudis implicated in the murder, banning them from travelling to the U.S.