Trump: 'Truth' behind Khashoggi case will be revealed this week

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he expects to learn what happened to Jamal Khashoggi by the end of the week, and said he is not covering for the Saudi leadership regarding the journalist's disappearance.

Trump has faced criticism for taking a soft line on the Saudi leadership who have been linked to the journalist's disappearance.

He dispatched his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, to Riyadh and Ankara to compile a "report" of his findings on the fate of Khashoggi, after meeting Turkish and Saudi leaders.

But photos showing Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - who has been linked to Khashoggi's disappearance - smiling and joking have led many to assume Trump's "investigation" is a sham.

Still, Trump claimed on Wednesday that the concrete details about Khashoggi's suspected murder will emerge by the end of the week.

"We will probably know that by the end of the week," Trump said at the White House. 

Turkish intelligence sources have said Khashoggi was murdered by a team of 15 agents sent over from Saudi Arabia to carry out the job.

New gory details emerged regarding the Saudi journalist's torture and killing on Wednesday, as Trump's diplomatic chief arrived in Turkey to hold talks with officials regarding Khashoggi's disappearance.

Trump has been under fire for echoing Riyadh's official narrative that rogue agents carried out the killing of Khashoggi, while all evidence appears to point towards direction from the Saudi leadership.

"No not at all, I just want to find out what's happening," Trump told journalists when questioned whether he is providing cover for the Saudis. "I'm not giving cover at all."

Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate on 2 October to complete paperwork and was never seen again.

Turkish intelligence have said the team of 15 Saudi agents were waiting in the consulate for Khashoggi and carried out the gruesome torture and killing of the jouurnalist.

Agencies contributed to this story.