looks like president trump is more interested in helping the saudis cover up than get to the truth. let s watch. the saudis are investigating themselves essentially. what do you think of they re a great, very talented people. they re not investigating themselves. president trump was asked today about khashoggi and an alleged recording, recordings nbc hasn t been able to corroborate. here he is. we re talking about a man who lived across the river in virginia. he wasn t a citizen of this country. you asked for this audio, video? if it exists, we have asked for it. i m not sure yet it exists, probably does, possibly does. according to the state department, a spokesman there, secretary of state mike pompeo who just wrapped up a trip to
he wasn t a citizen of this country for one thing. we are going to determine that. and you don t know whether or not we have, do you? i think he s dead and i think the saudis killed him. we need to condemn the conduct in the strongest possible terms. and the president and congress need to do it together. okay then. we begin with the crucial midterm elections that are just 20 days away and early voting begins today in three states. north carolina, tennessee and oregon. president trump continues his media blitz. blitz is an understatement. to push his party s candidates. the president admits he doesn t like speaking to journalists and wants to keep republicans in power. this is just for the midterms. we want do win and get the republicans nominated and we want to get them elected. we need republicans. you know? they talk about majority. we have a majority of this much. he might not like speaking t speaking to some news hosts and
no, i m not sure yet that it exists. probably does. possibly does. we re talking about a man who lived across the river in virginia. why not send the fbi in to figure all this out? he wasn t a citizen of this country, for one thing. and we re going to determine that. and you don t know whether or not we have, do you? i m not giving cover at all. with that said, saudi arabia has been a very important ally of ours in the middle east. here to discuss the day s rather remarkable developments, one of the reporters who interviewed the president yesterday on this topic and many, many, many more, jonathan lemire, white house reporter for the ap. also joining umichael crowley, now white house and national security editor for politico. from the washington post, white house reporter ashley parker. and ned price, former spokesman for the national security council under president obama. jonathan lemire, take us through your reporting on this topic and on his application of the kavanaugh s
also casting doubt on whether this audiotape exists that suggests this washington post journalist was tortured and killed shortly after entering the saudi consulate. president trump today not giving details about the investigation surrounding the disappearance of washington post journalist, jamal khashoggi, playing coy with reporters in the oval office when pressed if he s asked for the fbi s involvement. why not send the fbi in to figure this out? he wasn t a citizen of this country for one thing. and we re going to determine that. and you don t know whether or not we have, do you? do you know whether or not we have sent the fbi? have you sent the fbi? i m not going to tell you. tell us! why would i tell you? reporter: trump indicating, the u.s. asked the turkish authorities to hand over audio recordings they claim proves khashoggi was core toured, tort dismembered. we have asked if it exists. reporter: the president once
soften to brett kavanagh s confirmation process, once again saying guilty until proven innocent. he also declined to say whether the fbi is involved in this investigation. here s what he said today. he wasn t a citizen of this country for one thing and we re going to determine that and you don t know whether or not we have, do you? well i do you know whether or not we have sent the fbi? have you sent the fbi? i m not going to tell you. reporter: so the president saying he believes he will know by the end of the week what exactly happened. secretary of state mike pompeo coming back after meeting with saudi officials. the president says he will be briefed upon pompeo s turn this evening or tomorrow. what s interesting here, wolf, what exactly will mike pompeo say because the president said he doesn t know what happened, he said it s important to let the saudi investigation take place here, play out. so it remains what information