Trump Massively Exaggerated the Importance of Saudi Arms Sales, Says Think Tank
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Determines kingdom needs U.S. far more than other way around in wake of Khashoggi killing.
Reuters / Jonathan Ernst
Saudi arms sales provide a fraction of U.S. jobs and revenue that Donald Trump claimed they did, according to a new report. The report by the Center for International Policy, a Washington think tank, says Saudi arms sales account for fewer than 20,000 U.S. jobs a year—less than one-twentieth of the employment boost Trump has claimed. The president has estimated the rewards from sales to the Saudi regime at $110 billion and as many as 600,000 American jobs. The report argues that Saudi Arabia needs the U.S. far more than the other way around and that the Trump administration is in a strong position to punish the Saudi regime for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Trump has repeatedly cited the importance of Saudi arms sales to the U.S. economy as a reason not to cut the supply of weapons in response to the murder of TheWashington Post columnist. The actual amount of U.S. arms sales to Riyadh since Trump took office is $14.5 billion, the report says.
