Presidents and Monarchs: Donald Trump and King Salman
President Donald Trump broke with tradition in many ways. While most presidents have made their first foreign visit to Canada (George W. Bush is the exception), President Trump's first international sojourn took him to the middle east in order to visit two of America's traditional allies in the region.
From May 20 to 22 of 2017, the President travelled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he met with King Salman and Muslim leaders at the Riyadh Summit. While there he signed a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the largest in world history. He was also honored with the Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud, his first foreign order. President Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, visited the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Media reports of the visit noted that the President was very disciplined in his message. In his brief interaction with reporters, he stressed that he expected his deals with the Saudis would create jobs for American workers. President Trump was welcomed on his visit by his hosts, and many billboards contained his images and that of the king throughout the city. A towering visage of President Trump was beamed on to the exterior of a hotel. His arrival at the palace of the House of Saud was accompanied by bagpipe music. Late in the afternoon of May 21st, President Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince spoke in front of cameras. The President called it a “tremendous day” and said that the deals his administration had reached with the Saudis would create “jobs, jobs, jobs.” He took no questions.
Late that evening, a sandstorm rolled into the city. President Trump and his chief of staff, Reince Priebus, and his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, were entertained at a ceremony with dancing Saudi men wielding swords at an outdoor welcome ceremony before the start of an elaborate banquet at Murabba Palace. This was followed by a tour on a golf-cart of the museum at the edge of the palace grounds. The museum live-streamed a concert by country artist Toby Keith. The concert was open only to men. Keith had performed during Trump’s inauguration festivities.
From Riyadh, it was on to Jerusalem the next day. There he met with President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He became the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre. President Trump recalled his visit to the “Kotel HaMa’aravi,” the Western Wall where he recited Psalm 122 together with two rabbis. The next day President Trump said of this visit: “Yesterday, I visited the Western Wall, and marveled at the monument to God’s presence and man’s perseverance - I was humbled to place my hand upon the wall and to pray in that holy space for wisdom from God.” He went on to praise "the unbreakable spirit” of the Jewish people. He said: “Down through the ages, the Jewish people have suffered persecution, oppression and even those who have sought their destruction. But, through it all, they have endured - and they have thrived.” He said that he was in “awe of the accomplishments of the Jewish people.”
The next day, the President visited the Yad Vashem and later that day, he gave a speech at the Israel Museum. He spoke about the summit of Islamic nations in Saudi Arabia and called that meeting a “new opportunity for people throughout the Middle East to overcome sectarian and religious divisions to extinguish the fires of extremism, and find common ground and shared responsibility in making the future of this region.” He went on to say: “My message to that summit was the same message I have for you: We must build a coalition of partners who share the aim of stamping out extremism and violence, and providing our children a peaceful and hopeful future.”
President Trump said that he was willing to do his part to revive the peace process between the Palestinian Arabs and Israel. He told his audience: “Making peace will not be easy. We all know that. Both sides will face tough decisions. But with determination, compromise on both sides, and the belief that peace is possible.” He also repeated his pledge that, on his watch, Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons. He also pledged to oppose Iran's support of terrorists and militias. He told Israelis: “Iran’s leaders routinely call for the destruction of Israel. Not with Donald J. Trump.” His audience responded with a standing ovation.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, of the relationship between the two nations, “That friendship is reflected in the overwhelming support of the American people, strong bipartisan support of the American Congress and the support of American presidents from Harry Truman to Donald Trump. Thank you, President Trump, for your steadfast friendship to the Jewish people and the Jewish state. It is deeply, deeply appreciated.” Trump responded by thanking Netanyahu and his wife, Sarah, for an “unforgettable visit to this very special land.”
President Trump next met with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem on May 23rd. Following the meeting, the President said that Abbas "assures me he is ready to work towards that goal in good faith and Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised the same." President Trump was standing next to Abbas at the Presidential Palace when he made this statement. On the night prior to the meeting, a terrorist attack in Manchester, England left 22 dead and 59 others injured. President Trump also offered his condolences to the families of the victims and those injured in the attack. He said "We stand in absolute solidarity with people of the United Kingdom. So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life." He commented that "it's so interesting" his meeting with Abbas took place "on this very horrible morning of death to innocent young people." After meeting with Abbas, President Trump visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he laid a wreath and delivered brief remarks.
After leaving the Middle East, President Trump met went to Rome for two days. He met with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. On May 24th he had an audience with Pope Francis at Vatican City. Later in the day he traveled to Brussels where he met with another monarch, King Philippe of Belgium, as well as with Prime Minister Charles Michel. He also attended the 28th NATO summit where he also met with newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron. On May 25th he went to Taormina, Italy to attend the 43rd G7 summit. There he met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe.
From May 20 to 22 of 2017, the President travelled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he met with King Salman and Muslim leaders at the Riyadh Summit. While there he signed a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the largest in world history. He was also honored with the Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud, his first foreign order. President Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, visited the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Media reports of the visit noted that the President was very disciplined in his message. In his brief interaction with reporters, he stressed that he expected his deals with the Saudis would create jobs for American workers. President Trump was welcomed on his visit by his hosts, and many billboards contained his images and that of the king throughout the city. A towering visage of President Trump was beamed on to the exterior of a hotel. His arrival at the palace of the House of Saud was accompanied by bagpipe music. Late in the afternoon of May 21st, President Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince spoke in front of cameras. The President called it a “tremendous day” and said that the deals his administration had reached with the Saudis would create “jobs, jobs, jobs.” He took no questions.
Late that evening, a sandstorm rolled into the city. President Trump and his chief of staff, Reince Priebus, and his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, were entertained at a ceremony with dancing Saudi men wielding swords at an outdoor welcome ceremony before the start of an elaborate banquet at Murabba Palace. This was followed by a tour on a golf-cart of the museum at the edge of the palace grounds. The museum live-streamed a concert by country artist Toby Keith. The concert was open only to men. Keith had performed during Trump’s inauguration festivities.
From Riyadh, it was on to Jerusalem the next day. There he met with President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He became the first sitting US president to visit the Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre. President Trump recalled his visit to the “Kotel HaMa’aravi,” the Western Wall where he recited Psalm 122 together with two rabbis. The next day President Trump said of this visit: “Yesterday, I visited the Western Wall, and marveled at the monument to God’s presence and man’s perseverance - I was humbled to place my hand upon the wall and to pray in that holy space for wisdom from God.” He went on to praise "the unbreakable spirit” of the Jewish people. He said: “Down through the ages, the Jewish people have suffered persecution, oppression and even those who have sought their destruction. But, through it all, they have endured - and they have thrived.” He said that he was in “awe of the accomplishments of the Jewish people.”
The next day, the President visited the Yad Vashem and later that day, he gave a speech at the Israel Museum. He spoke about the summit of Islamic nations in Saudi Arabia and called that meeting a “new opportunity for people throughout the Middle East to overcome sectarian and religious divisions to extinguish the fires of extremism, and find common ground and shared responsibility in making the future of this region.” He went on to say: “My message to that summit was the same message I have for you: We must build a coalition of partners who share the aim of stamping out extremism and violence, and providing our children a peaceful and hopeful future.”
President Trump said that he was willing to do his part to revive the peace process between the Palestinian Arabs and Israel. He told his audience: “Making peace will not be easy. We all know that. Both sides will face tough decisions. But with determination, compromise on both sides, and the belief that peace is possible.” He also repeated his pledge that, on his watch, Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons. He also pledged to oppose Iran's support of terrorists and militias. He told Israelis: “Iran’s leaders routinely call for the destruction of Israel. Not with Donald J. Trump.” His audience responded with a standing ovation.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, of the relationship between the two nations, “That friendship is reflected in the overwhelming support of the American people, strong bipartisan support of the American Congress and the support of American presidents from Harry Truman to Donald Trump. Thank you, President Trump, for your steadfast friendship to the Jewish people and the Jewish state. It is deeply, deeply appreciated.” Trump responded by thanking Netanyahu and his wife, Sarah, for an “unforgettable visit to this very special land.”
President Trump next met with Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem on May 23rd. Following the meeting, the President said that Abbas "assures me he is ready to work towards that goal in good faith and Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised the same." President Trump was standing next to Abbas at the Presidential Palace when he made this statement. On the night prior to the meeting, a terrorist attack in Manchester, England left 22 dead and 59 others injured. President Trump also offered his condolences to the families of the victims and those injured in the attack. He said "We stand in absolute solidarity with people of the United Kingdom. So many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life." He commented that "it's so interesting" his meeting with Abbas took place "on this very horrible morning of death to innocent young people." After meeting with Abbas, President Trump visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he laid a wreath and delivered brief remarks.
After leaving the Middle East, President Trump met went to Rome for two days. He met with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. On May 24th he had an audience with Pope Francis at Vatican City. Later in the day he traveled to Brussels where he met with another monarch, King Philippe of Belgium, as well as with Prime Minister Charles Michel. He also attended the 28th NATO summit where he also met with newly-elected French President Emmanuel Macron. On May 25th he went to Taormina, Italy to attend the 43rd G7 summit. There he met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe.