Jamal Khashoggi: Trump says it 'certainly looks like' journalist is dead and consequences must be 'very severe'

Donald Trump has said it "certainly looks" as though missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is dead and that the consequences must be “very severe”.

The president had previously warned Saudi Arabia will face “severe punishment” from the US if it is found the kingdom was responsible for Mr Khashoggi’s death.

The writer, a columnist for the Washington Post, has not been seen since entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul more than two weeks ago, on October 2.

Turkish authorities said he was murdered and dismembered. Saudi Arabia has denied any involvement.

Saudi and Turkish governments are conducting separate investigations into the disappearance of Mr Khashoggi.

Mr Trump earlier expressed confidence in intelligence reports that suggest a high-level Saudi role in the suspected killing.

But in an interview with the New York Times, he it was still "a little bit early" to draw definitive conclusions about who may have been behind it.

It comes as government officials from around the world pulled out of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia over the dissident journalist’s alleged murder.

The US Treasure Secretary Steven Mnuchin joined ministers from the UK, France and Netherlands in cancelling his trip to the event known as ‘Davos in the desert’.

Mr Mnuchin announced he would pull out of the summit following a discussion with Mr Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Mr Pompeo revealed he told the president that Saudi Arabia should be given a few more days to complete its own investigation before the US decides “how, or if” to respond.

He added that Turkey also promised to share the results of its own investigation with the Saudis.