Faisal Al Nasser/Reuters
Saudi Arabia on Sunday promised to hit back against any punishment over journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance with an even “stronger” response, just hours after President Trump vowed to take action against the kingdom. “The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures or repeating false accusations,” a statement published by the official state-run Saudi Press Agency read. On Twitter, the Saudi Foreign Ministry offered a much more ominous statement that it said was “in response to pressures based on false accusations.” “The outcome of these weak endeavors, like their predecessors, is demise,” the ministry said, adding that the Saudi kingdom is “steadfast and glorious as ever.” The warning came after Saudi stocks took a nosedive early Sunday following Trump’s threats of “very strong measures” against the kingdom if it is found to be involved in Khashoggi’s disappearance. The kingdom has faced a major backlash in recent days after Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the government, went missing following a visit to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish authorities have claimed to have evidence the journalist was murdered inside the building after being lured there by top Saudi officials.