Ford Motor chairman pulls out of Saudi conference

Ford Motor Chairman Bill Ford has canceled a trip to the Middle East this month that included an appearance at a Saudi investment conference, the company said Sunday, according to Reuters.

The cancellation of Ford’s appearance at the conference comes amid an outcry over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist last seen in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

{mosads}Reuters reported that Ford did not provide a reason for the canceled trip or say whether Khashoggi’s disappearance played a role in the chairman’s decision not to attend.

Ford did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill. 

Media outlets such as The New York Times and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi are among the other companies and executives that have also said they will not attend the conference as scheduled.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, however, is still expected to attend the event. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on “Fox News Sunday” that Mnuchin is “at the moment” still scheduled to make the appearance.

Saudi Arabia has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance, but Turkey and others have blamed the country.