Big Lines From Trump's Saudi Speech

He takes a more moderate tone toward Islam
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted May 21, 2017 10:21 AM CDT
Big Lines From Trump's Saudi Speech
President Trump delivers a speech to the Arab Islamic American Summit at the King Abdulaziz Conference Center Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Trump addressed the Muslim world on Sunday, taking a more moderate tone than he did as a presidential candidate, when he declared that "Islam hates us," reports the New York Times. On Sunday, in his speech in Saudi Arabia to Muslim leaders from around the world, he said that the US is "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, he added, "we are here to offer partnership—based on shared interests and values—to pursue a better future for us all." The Washington Post has a transcript. Highlights:

  • Trump also made headlines for what he didn't say, specifically the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism." Story here.
  • "A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and drive out the 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. (See this clip here.)

  • "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, all in the name of religion—people that want to protect life and want to protect their religion. This is a battle between good and evil.”
  • "The nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them." They "will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries and, frankly, for their families and for their children.”
  • The US will “make decisions based on real-world outcomes, not inflexible ideology,” and “wherever possible, we will seek gradual reforms, not sudden intervention."
  • He called Islam "one of the world's great faiths."
  • Trump criticized Iran for spreading "destruction and chaos" throughout the region.
(More President Trump stories.)

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