Trump to Muslim leaders: ‘Drive them out’

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a departure from his anti-Islamic rhetoric, President Donald Trump on Sunday delivered a soft-toned speech on Islam drafted to reset his liaison with the Muslim world.

Calling Islam "one of the world's great faiths,” Mr. Trump said that Muslims are the biggest victims of terrorism.

"More than 95% of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim," he said.

In his first major speech to the Muslim world, the President urged Muslim-majority countries to redouble their counterterrorism efforts, and defined the battle against terrorists as a "battle between good and evil"

"This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations," Mr. Trump said.

"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."

"Drive them out,” he said.

"Drive out the terrorists. Drive out the extremists. 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."

 

Mr. Trump asked Middle Eastern countries not to wait for American power, but instead "decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children."

The President was speaking in front of the leaders of 55 Muslim-majority countries attending Arab-Islamic-American summit in Riyadh.

Mr. Trump, who wants to speed up the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, hinted that he understands he needs a more productive association with Islamic countries if he hopes to triumph in his war against terror.

Melania lands in Saudi Arabia sans headscarf

Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump both arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday skipping their headscarves. Their uncovered hair was noticeable because in 2015 Donald Trump criticized Michelle Obama for doing the same thing. At that time Trump tweeted:

"Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted. We have enuf enemies."

Although they decided not to cover their heads, the First Lady and First Daughter were both dressed modestly when they landed at King Khalid International Airport.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia shook the First Lady’s hand asshe ascended from Air Force One. Many Saudi men would choose not to shake a woman’s hand. 

In Saudi Arabia women are forced to cover up when they leave their homes but Western female dignitaries tend not to cover their heads when visiting the conservative Muslim nation.

 Earlier this year German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May visited Saudi Arabia without wearing headscarves.

Trump’s Travel ban architect is the writer for his speech on Islam

The author behind President Trump’s controversial travel ban, which excluded people from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States is the main speechwriter for the President’s speech on Islam. Mr. Trump is expected to deliver the speech in front of 50 Muslim leaders in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Stephen Miller, Trump’s senior adviser for policy and speechwriter, has put together the speech through a collaborative process, according to a White House official.

The speech could be a flashpoint in Mr. Trump's eight-day, five country trip.

Donald Trump, who long ridiculed Islam, proposed banning all Muslim immigration into the United States during the campaign, is expected to use the term "radical Islamic terrorism" throughout the speech in a country considered holy land to 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide.

The travel ban designed by Miller was eventually blocked by 2 federal judges. 

Miller, a 31-year-old aide, has a long history of anti-Muslim rhetoric, and he along with Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon, has been a key voice in Trump's policies on immigration.

In an article for his school’s newspaper, Miller wrote:

"Islamic terrorists ... have declared a death sentence on every man, woman and child living in this country."

As a college student, Miller worked for the Terrorism Awareness Project, a project founded by the David Horowitz Freedom Center. The center was described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-Muslim hate group.

Earlier this week, Mr. Trump said that he will "challenge" Muslims in Saudi Arabia to "fight hatred and extremism and embrace a better future of their faith."

"We have to stop radical Islamic terrorism," he added.