President Trump said Friday evening that it was "a great first step" for Saudi Arabia to confirm that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi died inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

For more than two weeks, the Saudi government claimed the Washington Post columnist left the building unharmed on Oct. 2. As international pressure mounted, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed Friday he died following an unplanned fistfight.

Trump said during a trip to Arizona he didn't feel lied to by Saudi officials, who previously told him and senior White House officials they didn't know what happened. After speaking with Saudi King Salman on Monday, for example, Trump said it was possible that "rogue killers" were responsible.

The Trump administration has struggled to respond to the international crisis as evidence mounts suggesting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was involved. Members of his security detail arrived at the consulate around the time of Khashoggi's disappearance.

Turkish media report that Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered by a 15-member Saudi hit squad armed with a bone saw.

Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince who was living in Virginia, entered the consulate to retrieve paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee.

On Friday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Khashoggi died, during what the ministry said was a fight, and said 18 suspects were arrested.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said the Saudi explanation for Khashoggi’s death is unbelievable.

“First we were told Mr. Khashoggi supposedly left the consulate and there was blanket denial of any Saudi involvement. Now, a fight breaks out and he’s killed in the consulate, all without knowledge of Crown Prince. It’s hard to find this latest ‘explanation’ as credible,” Graham said.