#2018.10.12

Tapper tears into Trump: He is harsher on Taylor Swift than Saudi Arabia

BY JUSTIN WISE October 12, 2018

CNN host Jake Tapper said Friday that President Trump appears to be tougher on singer Taylor Swift than on the Saudi Arabian government

"President Trump has been harsher about Taylor Swift this week than he has about [Mohammad Bin Salman]," Tapper said on CNN's "The Lead," referring to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

Tapper's comment came amid reports that Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. The Post reported Thursday that the Turkish government said it has video and audio recordings that prove Khashoggi was killed.

Khashoggi went missing on Oct. 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain papers for his upcoming marriage.

Khashoggi was known for being an outspoken critic of the Saudi government led by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.

Trump has said officials in the U.S., Turkey and Saudi Arabia are "looking very hard and fast" into the situation. He also said before a rally in Ohio on Friday that he will speak with King Salman of Saudi Arabia.

But critics have argued his response hasn't been urgent enough. Tapper's reference to Swift appeared to refer to Trump's comment about the singer earlier this week, which came after he learned that she had endorsed a pair of Democratic candidates.

"Let's say that I like Taylor's music about 25% less now, OK?" Trump said Tuesday when asked about her support of Tennessee Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen.

Trump is facing mounting scrutiny over what his administration will do in response to Khashoggi's disappearance.