The Biden administration struggled Sunday over its messaging on President Biden’s trip next month to a conference in Saudi Arabia, the oil-producing kingdom that Mr. Biden once vowed to make a “pariah.”
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm walked back President Biden’s claim that he would not meet directly in Riyadh with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who approved the 2018 operation to capture or kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a U.S. intelligence report.
“I know that he will —- I think he will meet with the Saudi crown prince,” Ms. Granholm said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Mr. Biden is expected to push for increased oil production at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit including Egypt, Iraq and Jordan, also known as GCC+3, to combat historically high U.S. energy prices.
“He has asked for all suppliers around the globe to increase production,” Ms. Granholm said.
“That includes OPEC. That includes our domestic oil and gas producers. He is asking for an increase, like other leaders around the globe are asking for it.” THE WASHINGTON TIMES
