Trump Calls Aftermath Of Khashoggi Killing ‘Worst Cover-Up Ever’

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the effort to conceal the killing of Washington Post journalist at a Saudi consulate in Turkey was the “worst cover up ever.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump declined to preview what the U.S. would do in response to the death of Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi operatives.

But he was clear in his view that the operation and its aftermath demonstrated incompetence.

“They had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly and the cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups,” he said. “They had the worst-cover up ever.”

Shortly after Trump spoke, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. would punish certain Saudis who have been connected to the killing.

“We have identified some of the individuals responsible, including those in the intelligence services, the foreign ministry the royal court and other Saudi ministries whom we suspect to have been involved in Jamal Khashoggi’s death,” Pompeo said.

“We are taking appropriate action, which includes revoking visas…and taking other measures.”