Jamal Khashoggi: Donald Trump is waiting for the journalist's death

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged for the first time that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who died two weeks ago at his country's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, and whose fate is uncertain, is probably dead.

"It looks good," Trump told reporters in Washington. "It's very sad."

If Saudi Arabia was responsible for the journalist's death, the consequences would be "very serious," Trump said. He described the events as "bad things", but you will see what happens. It is necessary to wait for the result of the investigations in progress in this affair. He counts with answers soon.

Jamal Khashoggi, columnist for the Washington Post and a frequent critic of the leaders of his country, Saudi Arabia, wanted documents at the consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and has since disappeared. The Turkish authorities badume that he was murdered by a special force from Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi royal family declines all responsibility. Earlier, Trump had defended the leadership in Riyadh, leaving Saudi leadership to inquire into the case, although powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is widely believed internationally to have sponsored the murder of A journalist critical of the government.

Pompeo wants to give the Riad "a few more days"

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday after returning from visits to Riyadh and Ankara that Saudi leaders had promised him "a thorough and thorough investigation". So he told Trump that "we should give them a few more days to complete this."

The case of Khashoggi is extremely sensitive for Trump, who relies on close cooperation with Riyadh for his actions against Iran and for the resolution of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Saudi Arabia is also a mbadive buyer of American defense equipment.

On the journalist's question about possible sanctions against Riyadh over the Khashoggi affair, the US president said on Thursday that the reaction should be "very strict". However, Trump has been vocal in recent days against stopping arms sales deals between the United States and Saudi Arabia. These would bring a lot of money and guarantee jobs in the United States, he said.

Video: US Republicans contradict Trump in Khashoggi case

For Saudi Arabia, serious consequences already appear due to the disappearance of Khashoggi. For example, more and more big names in the world of business and politics say they are attending an investor conference in Riyadh next week. The big American bank Goldman Sachs has announced that it will not send a representative. The media company Fox Business Network pulled out of the list of sponsors, and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced his departure.