WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday that he stands by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.

“He's the leader of Saudi Arabia. They’ve been a very good ally,” Trump said in an interview in the Oval Office.

Asked by Reuters if standing by the Kingdom meant standing by the Crown Prince, Trump responded: “Well... it certainly does."

As Senate considers this week a joint resolution on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, something that the President would have to sign or veto if passed by Congress, Trump said he would meet with senators.

“And I really hope that people aren’t going to suggest that we should not take hundreds of billions of dollars that they’re going to siphon off to Russia and to China,” Trump said.

“Well, I’m much more open to Yemen because frankly, I hate to see what’s going on in Yemen,” Trump said.

“But it takes two to tango. I’d want to see Iran pull out of Yemen too. Because - and I think they will.” — Reuters