Over half of voters don’t like how President Biden is handling the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, and an overwhelming majority is troubled by the country’s human rights record.

During the presidential campaign, Biden committed to punishing Saudi Arabia for human rights abuses, including the 2018 killing of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 

A new Fox News survey shows 84% think Saudi Arabia’s track record on human rights is a problem, with over half calling it a major problem. More than 8 in 10 Democrats, Republicans, and independents think the kingdom’s human rights record is an issue.  

The survey was conducted July 10-13, just before Biden’s first presidential visit to the Middle East, which included a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

By a 23-point margin, more voters disapprove (55%) than approve (32%) of how Biden is handling relations with Saudi Arabia. Most Republicans (82%) and independents (64%) rate him negatively on Saudi Arabia, as do more than one in five Democrats (22%).