Prior to being elected to Congress in 2024, U.S. Representative Eugene Vindman (D-VA) served as a deputy legal advisor for the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) until he was reassigned by President Trump on February 7, 2020.
[Note: Vindman and his twin brother, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, played key roles regarding the Trump–Ukraine scandal, which saw President Trump accused of pressuring the Ukrainian government to produce damaging information about his political rival Joe Biden. Testimony from both Vindmans provided evidence that resulted in a charge of abuse of power in Trump’s first impeachment.]
After watching Trump welcome Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS) at the White House on Tuesday, Vindman addressed the relationship of Trump and MBS on the House floor.
[Note: MBS has faced international condemnation for his alleged role in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2019, an alleged role Trump denied (“he knew nothing about it”) during this week’s Oval Office visit, despite American intelligence findings having asserted the Crown Prince did play a role.]
Commenting on Trump’s statement about Khashoggi’s fate and MBS, Vindman said: “Given the President’s disturbing and counterfactual defense of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today, I feel compelled to speak up on behalf of Mr. Khashoggi and his family and the American people.”
You know about Trump and Zelesnky’s call, but have you heard about the call between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince?
Watch my statement below. @POTUS, release the transcript. pic.twitter.com/UHltH8srdO
— Congressman Eugene Vindman (@RepVindman) November 19, 2025
The Congressman added, “During my tenure on Trump’s White House National Security Council staff, I reviewed many of Trump’s calls with foreign leaders. Of all the calls I reviewed, two stood out as the most problematic.
“The first we all know, it was between President Trump and President Zelensky, which resulted in President Trump’s first impeachment. The second was between President Trump and Mohammad bin Salman. After the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, I reviewed a call between the president and the Saudi Crown Prince.
“The American people and the Khashoggi family deserve to know what was said on that call. If history is any guide, the receipts will be shocking. I call on the president to release that transcript.”
Vindman added, “And honestly, does anyone believe that the Zelensky call was the only problematic conversation Donald Trump had with a foreign leader?”
The widow of Jamal Khashoggi, Hanann Elatr Khashoggi, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia, replied to Vindman: “Thank you for remembering my husband.”
Mrs. Khashoggi also reposted ABC News White House Chief Correspondent Mary Bruce‘s post about her exchange with Trump and the Crown Prince in the Oval Office, see below. Bruce “asked both men about Khashoggi’s murder and the anger 9/11 families have expressed over the visit because of Saudi Arabia’s alleged role.”
President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House on Tuesday despite a record of human rights abuses, including his alleged involvement in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.
ABC News’ Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked both men… pic.twitter.com/sQ4grDTwyK
— ABC News (@ABC) November 18, 2025