Donald Trump erupted at a journalist as he was answering questions during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While hosting the Saudi heir to the throne at the White House, Mr Trump took a few questions from members of the press – including an ABC reporter.

Mr Trump responded furiously after the reporter asked a question about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The US President asked the reporter “who are you with?” multiple times and when she responded “ABC News”, Mr Trump said: “Fake news. ABC News, fake news, one of the worst in the business.” He then told the reporter not to “embarass” the Saudi Crown Prince, saying Mr bin Salman “knew nothing” about Mr Khashoggi’s death.

Referring to the Crown Prince, an angry Mr Trump said: “As far as this gentlemen is concerned, he’s done a phenomenal job.

“You’re mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about, whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen, but he knew nothing about it and we can leave it at that.”

Mr Trump further chastised the reporter, saying: “You don’t have to embarrass our guest by asking a question.”

The outburst came days after the President told a female journalist to be “quiet, piggy” after she asked him a question about the Epstein files while onboard Air Force One.

Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist at the Washington Post based in the US, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2018.

He was a prominent critic of the Saudi Crown Prince.

US intelligence concluded the Crown Prince had approved the capture or killing of Mr Khashoggi.

Mr Bin Salman denies involvement but in 2019, said he takes “full responsibility as a leader in Saudi Arabia, especially since it was committed by individuals working for the Saudi government”.

A report by the United Nations Mr Khashoggi’s death was an extrajudicial killing by the Saudi state.

Later on in the meeting with Mr bin Salman, Mr Trump lashed out again at the ABC reporter after she asked another question about releasing files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

He criticised her attitiude and the way she asks questions and went onto say he thinks the license should be taken away from ABC because “your news is so fake and it’s so wrong.”

During the White House meeting on Tuesday, Mr bin Salman, Saudi’s de facto ruler, said his country would be increasing its financial commitments to the US from $600 billion to $1 trillion.

The two leaders are expected to unveil deals, including one that will see the US sell F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh.