In speech to Muslim leaders, Trump to challenge them to stamp out extremism

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President Trump Sunday in a highly-anticipated speech to Muslim leaders during his first foreign trip is expected to call for unity in the fight to “stamp out extremism.” During his second day of his first trip abroad, Trump’s speech in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will address the leaders of 50 Muslim-majority countries to cast the challenge of extremism as a “battle between good and evil” and urge Arab leaders to “drive out the terrorists from your places of worship,” according to a draft of the speech.

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“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,” Trump is expected to say according to excerpts of his speech. “Our friends will never question our support, and our enemies will never doubt our determination.” Trump will tell Muslim leaders that the only way to combat radical terrorism is “if the forces of good are united” and calls for countries to do their “fair share” in the fight.

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“This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations,” Trump will say. “And it means standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians.”

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Trump did not address the cameras. But Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Saudi Foreign Minister Abdel al Jubeir held a joint press conference. Jubeir said Trump "certainly has the vision and, we believe, strength to bring about Middle East peace.” He also called the Trump’s trip a “truly historic visit.” Said Tillerson: “We’re very proud of this relationship we're embarking on.”

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Trump on Sunday will also hold meetings with more than 50 Arab and Muslim leaders converging on Riyadh for a regional summit focused largely on combating the Islamic State and other extremist groups. Still, the centerpiece of Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia will likely be the speech Sunday at the Arab-Islamic-American summit. White House aides view the address as a counter to Obama's 2009 speech to the Muslim world, which Trump criticized as too apologetic for U.S. actions in the region.

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Trump will call for unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a "battle between good and evil" and urging Arab leaders to "drive out the terrorists from your places of worship," according to a draft of the speech obtained by The Associated Press.

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