State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert came under fire Wednesday for posting a smiling, touristy photo of herself in Saudi Arabia.
The Instagram image was taken while she stood in front of the Saudi Royal Court smiling.
Twitter posters disapproved of the shot in light of the inquiry underway into the disappearance of Saudi critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi — and reports of his alleged slaying during a supposed interrogation in the Saudi consulate in Turkey.
Political commentator Ana Navarro tweeted derisively about “more smiling pics from US State Department while on a ‘fact-finding mission’ to investigate disappearance of a US Resident.”
The frequent critic of President Donald Trump added that the administration’s “coordinated effort to help Saudis cover up” Khashoggi’s alleged killing was “simple disgusting.”
MSNBC and NBC correspondent David Gura also tweeted his disapproval, saying the “tourist-in-Riyadh” photo was ill-advised.
One poster slammed “this entire situation” as “ghoulish in how it’s being handled," while another tweeted the “complete obliviousness and insensitivity” speaks volumes.
Former U.S. Office of Government Ethics director Walter Shaub described the State Department's mission to Riyadh as “the most obvious sham designed to protect Trump’s profits. Disgusting.”
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also took heat for a picture of him smiling while seated beside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
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