Trump has ended his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia, which was his first official trip as the US president and in his address to 50 Arab and Muslim leaders in Riyadh, Trump said: “I stand before you as a representative of the American people, to deliver a message of friendship and hope. That is why I chose to make my first foreign visit a trip to the heart of the Muslim world, to the nation that serves as custodian of the two holiest sites in the Islamic faith.”
In his long anticipated speech on Sunday, Trump used a different tone and words, calling Islam “one of the world’s great faiths” and highlighting that “more than 95% of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim.” Trump insisted that Muslim leaders stand in the way of violence committed in the name of religion, describing the fight against extremism as a struggle between good and evil. “Here at this summit we will discuss many interests we share together. But above all we must be united in pursuing the one goal that transcends every other consideration. That goal is to meet history’s great test — to conquer extremism and vanquish the forces of terrorism,” Trump said.
“A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists. Drive. Them. Out. Drive them out of your places of worship. Drive them out of your communities. Drive them out of your holy land, and drive them out of this earth,” Trump advised Arab and Muslim leaders. “Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death,” he concluded.
This trip was also covered by the media because of the fact that the first lady of America did not cover her head although Donald trump criticized Michelle Obama’s choice to forego the headdress. He tweeted at that time: “Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted. We have enough enemies.”
Strangest of all is that Trump’s speech was in conflict with his earlier statements. On Sept. 11, 2014, for example, Trump retweeted someone saying “Saudi Arabia are nothing but mouth pieces, bullies, cowards. They have the money, but no guts.” On Dec. 12, 2015, he asked a question: “Has your country, Saudi Arabia, taken ANY of the Syrian refugees? If not, why not?" The question is what has changed? Maybe President Trump is doing what he does best – business – because the agreement he made includes the announcement of a $110 billion Saudi-funded defense purchase.
Photo Credits: The White House
