MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes used the disappearance of a journalist in Saudi Arabia to spread a conspiracy theory about President Donald Trump.
U.S. intelligence revealed Thursday morning shows that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered Saudi forces to capture and interrogate Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi disappeared on Oct. 2, and Turkish officials believe he was killed inside the Saudi consulate. (RELATED: US Intelligence Shows Saudi Crown Prince Ordered Operating To Capture Missing Journalist)
A general manager of Alarab TV, Jamal Khashoggi, looks on during a press conference in the Bahraini capital Manama, on December 15, 2014. The pan-Arab satellite news broadcaster owned by billionaire Saudi businessman Alwaleed bin Talal will go on air February 1, promising to “break the mould” in a crowded field.AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH/AFP/Getty Images)
Trump has repeatedly said that the United States has to “wait and see” on the situation, and Hayes suggested that the Saudis are bribing Trump to keep quiet on the issue.
“Would be nice to definitively rule out that the Saudis are paying the president massive bribes in exchange for tacit approval for murdering critics!” Hayes tweeted late Wednesday night.
Would be nice to definitively rule out that the Saudis are paying the president massive bribes in exchange for tacit approval for murdering critics!
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) October 11, 2018
Hayes then used his self-generated conspiracy theory to call on Trump to release his tax returns.
“Give Americans some actual transparency into the president’s personal and Trump Org finances,” he demanded.
And it would be easy to do: give Americans some actual transparency into the president’s personal and Trump Org finances.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) October 11, 2018
Journalists have previously raised questions about Trump’s arms deal with Saudi Arabia, which is worth more than $100 billion.