Trump administration's shift on human rights support 'gives green light to strongmen'

Rolling out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, while pressing questionable accusations against governments that are ideologically opposed to his administration, shows the selective nature of Trump’s concerns

US president Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman attended the Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, Washington, on Wednesday. Picture: Evan Vucci/AP

When US president Donald Trump defended Saudi Arabia’s crown prince this week over the 2018 killing of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, he did more than just stir renewed accusations from critics of an affinity toward strongmen.

Trump’s remarks, which contradicted US intelligence findings, threw into stark relief just how far his administration has shifted away from the traditional US support for human rights globally.