Here's the full text of Donald Trump’s speech on Islamic terrorism delivered in Saudi Arabia
Donald
Trump described the fight against terrorism as a “battle between good
and evil,” not a clash between the West and Islam in a speech delivered
to Middle Eastern leaders on Sunday. Below is the full text of Trump’s speech as released by the White House...
I want to thank King Salman for his extraordinary words, and the magnificent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting today’s summit. I am honored to be received by such gracious hosts. I have always heard about the splendor of your country and the kindness of your citizens, but words do not do justice to the grandeur of this remarkable place and the incredible hospitality you have shown us from the moment we arrived.
You also hosted me in the treasured home of King Abdulaziz, the founder of the Kingdom who united your great people. Working alongside another beloved leader – American President Franklin Roosevelt – King Abdulaziz began the enduring partnership between our two countries. King Salman: your father would be so proud to see that you are continuing his legacy – and just as he opened the first chapter in our partnership, today we begin a new chapter that will bring lasting benefits to our citizens.
Let me now also extend my deep and heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of the distinguished heads of state who made this journey here today. You greatly honor us with your presence, and I send the warmest regards from my country to yours. I know that our time together will bring many blessings to both your people and mine.
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 my inaugural address to the American People, I pledged to strengthen America’s oldest friendships, and to build new partnerships in pursuit of peace. I also promised that America will not seek to impose our way of life on others, but to outstretch our hands in the spirit of cooperation and trust.
Our vision is one of peace, security, and prosperity—in this region, and in the world.
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.
And so this historic and unprecedented gathering of leaders—unique in the history of nations—is a symbol to the world of our shared resolve and our mutual respect. To the leaders and citizens of every country assembled here today, I want you to know that the United States is eager to form closer bonds of friendship, security, culture and commerce.
For Americans, this is an exciting time. A new spirit of optimism is sweeping our country: in just a few months, we have created almost a million new jobs, added over 3 trillion dollars of new value, lifted the burdens on American industry, and made record investments in our military that will protect the safety of our people and enhance the security of our wonderful friends and allies – many of whom are here today.
Now, there is even more blessed news I am pleased to share with you. My meetings with King Salman, the Crown Prince, and the Deputy Crown Prince, have been filled with great warmth, good will, and tremendous cooperation. Yesterday, we signed historic agreements with the Kingdom that will invest almost $400 billion in our two countries and create many thousands of jobs in America and Saudi Arabia.
This landmark agreement includes the announcement of a $110 billion Saudi-funded defense purchase – and we will be sure to help our Saudi friends to get a good deal from our great American defense companies. This agreement will help the Saudi military to take a greater role in security operations.
We have also started discussions with many of the countries present today on strengthening partnerships, and forming new ones, to advance security and stability across the Middle East and beyond.
Later today, we will make history again with the opening of a new Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology – located right here, in this central part of the Islamic World.
This groundbreaking new center represents a clear declaration that Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in combatting radicalization, and I want to express our gratitude to King Salman for this strong demonstration of leadership.
I have had the pleasure of welcoming several of the leaders present today to the White House, and I look forward to working with all of you.
America is a sovereign nation and our first priority is always the safety and security of our citizens. 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 – based on shared interests and values – to pursue a better future for us all.
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.
Young Muslim boys and girls should be able to grow up free from fear, safe from violence, and innocent of hatred. And young Muslim men and women should have the chance to build a new era of prosperity for themselves and their peoples.
With God’s help, this summit will mark the beginning of the end for those who practice terror and spread its vile creed. At the same time, we pray this special gathering may someday be remembered as the beginning of peace in the Middle East – and maybe, even all over the world.
But this future can only be achieved through defeating terrorism and the ideology that drives it.
Few nations have been spared its violent reach.
America has suffered repeated barbaric attacks – from the atrocities of September 11th to the devastation of the Boston Bombing, to the horrible killings in San Bernardino and Orlando.
The nations of Europe have also
endured unspeakable horror. So too have the nations of Africa and even
South America. India, Russia, China and Australia have been victims.
But, in sheer numbers, the deadliest
toll has been exacted on the innocent people of Arab, Muslim and Middle
Eastern nations. They have borne the brunt of the killings and the
worst of the destruction in this wave of fanatical violence.
Some estimates hold that more than 95 percent of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim.
We now face a humanitarian and
security disaster in this region that is spreading across the planet. It
is a tragedy of epic proportions. No description of the suffering and
depravity can begin to capture its full measure.
The true toll of ISIS, Al Qaeda,
Hezbollah, Hamas, and so many others, must be counted not only in the
number of dead. It must also be counted in generations of vanished
dreams.
The Middle East is rich with natural
beauty, vibrant cultures, and massive amounts of historic treasures. It
should increasingly become one of the great global centers of commerce
and opportunity.
This region should not be a place from which refugees flee, but to which newcomers flock.
Saudi Arabia is home to the holiest
sites in one of the world’s great faiths. Each year millions of Muslims
come from around the world to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Hajj. In
addition to ancient wonders, this country is also home to modern
ones—including soaring achievements in architecture.
Egypt was a thriving center of
learning and achievement thousands of years before other parts of the
world. The wonders of Giza, Luxor and Alexandria are proud monuments to
that ancient heritage.
All over the world, people dream of
walking through the ruins of Petra in Jordan. Iraq was the cradle of
civilization and is a land of natural beauty. And the United Arab
Emirates has reached incredible heights with glass and steel, and turned
earth and water into spectacular works of art.
The entire region is at the center
of the key shipping lanes of the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the
Straits of Hormuz. The potential of this region has never been greater.
65 percent of its population is under the age of 30. Like all young men
and women, they seek great futures to build, great national projects to
join, and a place for their families to call home.
But this untapped potential, this
tremendous cause for optimism, is held at bay by bloodshed and terror.
There can be no coexistence with this violence. There can be no
tolerating it, no accepting it, no excusing it, and no ignoring it.
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.
Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death.
If we do not act against this
organized terror, then we know what will happen. Terrorism’s devastation
of life will continue to spread. Peaceful societies will become
engulfed by violence. And the futures of many generations will be sadly
squandered.
If we do not stand in uniform
condemnation of this killing—then not only will we be judged by our
people, not only will we be judged by history, but we will be judged by
God.
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.
When we see the scenes of
destruction in the wake of terror, we see no signs that those murdered
were Jewish or Christian, Shia or Sunni. When we look upon the streams
of innocent blood soaked into the ancient ground, we cannot see the
faith or sect or tribe of the victims – we see only that they were
Children of God whose deaths are an insult to all that is holy.
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 – in pursuit of shared interests and common security.
But the nations of the Middle East
cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations
of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want
for themselves, for their countries, and for their children.
It is a choice between two futures – and it is a choice America CANNOT make for you.
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.
For our part, America is committed
to adjusting our strategies to meet evolving threats and new facts. We
will discard those strategies that have not worked—and will apply new
approaches informed by experience and judgment. We are adopting a
Principled Realism, rooted in common values and shared interests.
Our friends will never question our
support, and our enemies will never doubt our determination. Our
partnerships will advance security through stability, not through
radical disruption. We will make decisions based on real-world outcomes –
not inflexible ideology. We will be guided by the lessons of
experience, not the confines of rigid thinking. And, wherever possible,
we will seek gradual reforms – not sudden intervention.
We must seek partners, not perfection—and to make allies of all who share our goals.
Above all, America seeks peace – not war.
Muslim nations must be willing to
take on the burden, if we are going to defeat terrorism and send its
wicked ideology into oblivion.
The first task in this joint effort
is for your nations to deny all territory to the foot soldiers of evil.
Every country in the region has an absolute duty to ensure that
terrorists find no sanctuary on their soil.
Many are already making significant
contributions to regional security: Jordanian pilots are crucial
partners against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Saudi Arabia and a regional
coalition have taken strong action against Houthi militants in Yemen.
The Lebanese Army is hunting ISIS operatives who try to infiltrate their
territory. Emirati troops are supporting our Afghan partners. In Mosul,
American troops are supporting Kurds, Sunnis and Shias fighting
together for their homeland. Qatar, which hosts the U.S. Central
Command, is a crucial strategic partner. Our longstanding partnership
with Kuwait and Bahrain continue to enhance security in the region. And
courageous Afghan soldiers are making tremendous sacrifices in the fight
against the Taliban, and others, in the fight for their country.
As we deny terrorist organizations
control of territory and populations, we must also strip them of their
access to funds. We must cut off the financial channels that let ISIS
sell oil, let extremists pay their fighters, and help terrorists smuggle
their reinforcements.
I am proud to announce that the
nations here today will be signing an agreement to prevent the financing
of terrorism, called the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center –
co-chaired by the United States and Saudi Arabia, and joined by every
member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. It is another historic step in a
day that will be long remembered.
I also applaud the Gulf Cooperation
Council for blocking funders from using their countries as a financial
base for terror, and designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization
last year. Saudi Arabia also joined us this week in placing sanctions on
one of the most senior leaders of Hezbollah.
Of course, there is still much work to do.
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.
And political leaders must speak out
to affirm the same idea: heroes don’t kill innocents; they save them.
Many nations here today have taken important steps to raise up that
message. Saudi Arabia’s Vision for 2030 is an important and encouraging
statement of tolerance, respect, empowering women, and economic
development.
The United Arab Emirates has also
engaged in the battle for hearts and souls—and with the U.S., launched a
center to counter the online spread of hate. Bahrain too is working to
undermine recruitment and radicalism.
I also applaud Jordan, Turkey and
Lebanon for their role in hosting refugees. The surge of migrants and
refugees leaving the Middle East depletes the human capital needed to
build stable societies and economies. Instead of depriving this region
of so much human potential, Middle Eastern countries can give young
people hope for a brighter future in their home nations and regions.
That means promoting the aspirations
and dreams of all citizens who seek a better life – including women,
children, and followers of all faiths. Numerous Arab and Islamic
scholars have eloquently argued that protecting equality strengthens
Arab and Muslim communities.
For many centuries the Middle East
has been home to Christians, Muslims and Jews living side-by-side. We
must practice tolerance and respect for each other once again—and make
this region a place where every man and woman, no matter their faith or
ethnicity, can enjoy a life of dignity and hope.
In that spirit, after concluding my
visit in Riyadh, I will travel to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and then to
the Vatican – visiting many of the holiest places in the three Abrahamic
Faiths. If these three faiths can join together in cooperation, then
peace in this world is possible – including peace between Israelis and
Palestinians. I will be meeting with both Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Starving terrorists of their
territory, their funding, and the false allure of their craven ideology,
will be the basis for defeating them.
But no discussion of stamping out
this threat would be complete without mentioning the government that
gives terrorists all three—safe harbor, financial backing, and the
social standing needed for recruitment. It is a regime that is
responsible for so much instability in the region. I am speaking of
course of Iran.
From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran
funds, arms, and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups
that spread destruction and chaos across the region. For decades, Iran
has fueled the fires of sectarian conflict and terror.
It is a government that speaks
openly of mass murder, vowing the destruction of Israel, death to
America, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room.
Among Iran’s most tragic and
destabilizing interventions have been in Syria. Bolstered by Iran, Assad
has committed unspeakable crimes, and the United States has taken firm
action in response to the use of banned chemical weapons by the Assad
Regime – launching 59 tomahawk missiles at the Syrian air base from
where that murderous attack originated.
Responsible nations must work
together to end the humanitarian crisis in Syria, eradicate ISIS, and
restore stability to the region. The Iranian regime’s longest-suffering
victims are its own people. Iran has a rich history and culture, but the
people of Iran have endured hardship and despair under their leaders’
reckless pursuit of conflict and terror.
Until the Iranian regime is willing
to be a partner for peace, all nations of conscience must work together
to isolate Iran, deny it funding for terrorism, and pray for the day
when the Iranian people have the just and righteous government they
deserve.
The decisions we make will affect countless lives.
The decisions we make will affect countless lives.
King Salman, I thank you for the
creation of this great moment in history, and for your massive
investment in America, its industry and its jobs. I also thank you for
investing in the future of this part of the world.
This fertile region has all the
ingredients for extraordinary success – a rich history and culture, a
young and vibrant people, a thriving spirit of enterprise. But you can
only unlock this future if the citizens of the Middle East are freed
from extremism, terror and violence.
We in this room are the leaders of
our peoples. They look to us for answers, and for action. And when we
look back at their faces, behind every pair of eyes is a soul that
yearns for justice.
Today, billions of faces are now looking at us, waiting for us to act on the great question of our time.
Will we be indifferent in the
presence of evil? Will we protect our citizens from its violent
ideology? Will we let its venom spread through our societies? Will we
let it destroy the most holy sites on earth? If we do not confront this
deadly terror, we know what the future will bring—more suffering and
despair. But if we act—if we leave this magnificent room unified and
determined to do what it takes to destroy the terror that threatens the
world—then there is no limit to the great future our citizens will have.
The birthplace of civilization is waiting to begin a new renaissance. Just imagine what tomorrow could bring.
Glorious wonders of science, art,
medicine and commerce to inspire humankind. Great cities built on the
ruins of shattered towns. New jobs and industries that will lift up
millions of people. Parents who no longer worry for their children,
families who no longer mourn for their loved ones, and the faithful who
finally worship without fear.
These are the blessings of
prosperity and peace. These are the desires that burn with a righteous
flame in every human heart. And these are the just demands of our
beloved peoples.
I ask you to join me, to join together, to work together, and to FIGHT together — BECAUSE UNITED, WE WILL NOT FAIL.
Thank you. God Bless You. God Bless Your Countries. And God Bless the United States of America.
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