In today’s most watched political event, Donald Trump, who earlier this year sought to impose a travel ban targeting mostly-Muslim nations, will deliver a speech on Islamic tolerance and confronting extremism in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest importer of weapons, biggest sponsor – if not exporter – of global terrorism (See “Hillary Confirms Saudi Arabia, Qatar Fund ISIS In Leaked Email“) and biggest violator of human rights (see “Saudi Arabia Executes 153 In 2016“).
The speech, which was written by Stephen Miller, the same man who wrote Trump’s travel ban, will likely be a study in irony if not outright hypocrisy, and will have a binary outcome according to Beacon Policy Advisors: it will offer the “potential for a reset in relations with chances to appear more presidential”, while also presenting opportunities to “spread Trump’s turmoil onto the global stage.” In short, both the speech, and the Muslim world’s reactions, will have significant consequences for geopolitics and markets.
In his weekly address released Friday, the president said that he will deliver the speech to leaders of more than 50 Muslim nations. “I will represent the views of the American people frankly and clearly,” Mr. Trump said. “Many of these leaders have expressed growing concern about terrorism, the spread of radicalization, and Iran’s role in funding both. Now it appears Muslim leaders are ready to take more responsibility and a much bigger role in fighting terrorism in their region. It’s about time we do it, we’ll do it together, but it has to be done.”
As reported last night, based on a leaked draft of his speech, Trump will say that the fight against extremism “is not a battle between different faiths” but “a battle between good and evil.” Trump’s speech will attempt to strike a collaborative tone to bolster support for the fight against ISIS militants. Trump is expected to say: “Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: barbarism will deliver you no glory – piety to evil will bring you no dignity. “If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned.”
Here are ten key quotes and highlights from Trump’s speech per Axios:
- “We are adopting a principled realism … Our friends will never question our support, and our enemies will never doubt our determination. … [W]herever possible, we will seek gradual reforms – not sudden intervention.”
- “Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to God.”
- “We are not here to lecture — we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership.”
- “Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person, and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith.”
- “But we can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong — and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden.”
- “Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land.”
- “America is prepared to stand with you … But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them.”
- “This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations. This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.This is a battle between good and evil.”
- “That means honestly confronting the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires. And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians.”
- “Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory — piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned.”
The excerpts indicate a softer tone from Mr Trump, and do not include the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism”. During the presidenial campaign, Trump often criticised his predecessor, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton for not employing these terms.
National Security Adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster said the president will be “inspiring but direct” and address “the need to confront radical ideology.” The speech, on Sunday afternoon, is also intended to “unite the broader Muslim world.”
Echoing the assessment of Beacon, BBC notes that Trump’s keynote speech to more than 40 leaders of Muslim nations “takes him into risky territory. White House briefers say it will be uplifting, inspirational and unifying, but also blunt. He is expected to tell governments they need to do more to stamp out religious intolerance and extremism.”
This could go one of two ways. If he sticks to the script and presents his administration as being supportive and collegiate, avoiding the sort of inflammatory language he has used in the past, it should pass without incident. But if he uses terms like “radical Islamic terrorism”, which he has in the past, or adopts a hectoring, authoritarian tone, then that is likely to cause considerable offence.
There is huge significance and sensitivity in the location here. Saudi Arabia is both the birthplace of Islam and home to the two most sacred pilgrimage sites for the millions who make the journey every year. Donald Trump’s speech is likely to be watched with a critical eye.
The speech takes place a day after the president arrived in Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, where he received a “welcome fit for a king” and signed the biggest arms deal in US history, amounting to $350 billion over 10 years.
Watch it live below:
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