Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's entourage booked approximately 500 rooms at Trump International Hotel in New York during his U.S. visit, generating significant revenue at a time when the hotel was experiencing declining bookings. The stay occurred just days before the October 2, 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Trump's response to the Khashoggi murder was notably muted, stating "maybe he did, maybe he didn't" regarding MBS's involvement, while emphasizing Saudi arms purchases and economic ties.
Additional research revealed a pattern of Saudi spending at Trump properties, including a 13% revenue increase in early 2018 and over $270,000 spent by Saudi-funded lobbyists in the months following the 2016 election, raising significant emoluments and conflict of interest concerns.