Washington, November 26 (RHC)-- Paul Ryan, the publisher and CEO of the Washington Post, where Jamal Khashoggi worked as a columnist, wrote in a statement: “President Trump is correct in saying the world is a very dangerous place.  His surrender to this state-ordered murder will only make it more so. … [Trump] is placing personal relationships and commercial interests above American interests in his desire to continue to do business as usual with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.”

Earlier this week, Trump denied he has any financial ties to Saudi Arabia.  Trump said: “Well, I have nothing to do with Saudi -- just so you understand, I don’t make deals with Saudi Arabia.  I don’t have money from Saudi Arabia. I have nothing to do with Saudi Arabia.  I couldn’t care less.”

That contrasts with Trump’s comment at a July 2015 rally in which Trump declared: “I like the Saudis.  I make a lot of money with them.  They buy all sorts of my stuff.”

The Washington Post reports Trump’s business ties with Saudi Arabia go back to the 1990s, with Saudi lobbyists spending $270,000 last year alone to book rooms at Trump’s hotel in Washington, D.C.