Washington, Nov. 20 -- US President Donald Trump publicly defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when confronted by a reporter over US intelligence findings that he had orchestrated the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, describing the journalist as "somebody that was extremely controversial" and "a lot of people didn't like."

Trump dismissed the US intelligence conclusion and insisted the crown prince had no role in the murder carried out inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

"Whether you like him (Khashoggi) or didn't like him, things happen. But he (the crown prince) knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that," Trump said, adding, "You don't have to embarrass our guest by asking a question l...