When Mohammed sat down with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday before the national media, one of the first questions he faced was about the killing of Khashoggi. Trump defended the Saudi leader.

“A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about,” Trump said of Khashoggi, in response to an inquiry from ABC News reporter Mary Bruce.

“Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but [the Saudi crown prince] knew nothing about it,” he said. “And we can leave it at that. You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that.”

Talking to reporters, Mohammed said Khashoggi’s death was “painful” for the gulf kingdom, and that the Saudi government took “all the right steps” to investigate the Post columnist’s slaying. “It’s a huge mistake and we’re doing our best [so] that this doesn’t happen again,” he said.

The day ended with a black-tie dinner at the White House. Several tech CEOS, stars, and business and administration leaders attended the candlelit gathering in the East Room, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook and Cristiano Ronaldo. The dinner capped earlier extravagances to celebrate the crown prince’s arrival — in a culmination of the administration’s efforts to strengthen U.S.-Saudi relations.

Trump and Mohammed were expected to sign weapons, artificial intelligence and critical minerals agreements. Mohammed said Tuesday that he would boost Saudi investments in the United States from a previously announced $600 billion to “almost $1 trillion.” Trump had also told reporters earlier this week that he would approve the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia.

During the visit, Trump repeatedly referred to Mohammed as his friend.

“I don’t think our relationship could be better,” Trump said. “I don’t think they had a great relationship under Biden. And I don’t think they had a great really relationship under Obama. But they have a great relationship under Trump.”