Why Trump's first trip abroad was a success

The Hill ^ | May 30, 2017 | JuanPablo Andrade

[2ndDivisionVet]

President Trump this week concluded his first trip abroad. Despite extreme negativity from the media, the trip was one of the most successful by any president in recent memory.

During the trip, Trump visited the ancestral homelands of the three monotheistic faiths: Islam, Judaism and Christianity. It was his opportunity to express his foreign policy plans in a religious context, and he succeeded by staying on message.

While in Saudi Arabia, President Trump met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al, the rest of the royal family, and over 50 Arab and Muslim leaders. The Saudis were not happy with the Obama administration, and especially with many of their policies dealing with the Middle East. Trump’s visit showed his dedication to repairing Washington’s ties with our closest Arab ally. The Saudis welcomed the U.S. with open arms and with respect not shown during the Obama era.

It was clear Israel was also a top priority. Trump might very well be capable of doing something that no president has ever been able to do before. Peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis could actually be achievable if Trump can bring them together against a common enemy: Shiite-led Iran, a country that has no intention of being a positive force in the Middle East and is still one of the world’s top state sponsors of terrorism.

For years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sought to negotiate relations with Arab nations in a bid to counter their common enemy. Trump showed support for Netanyahu’s initiatives to recalibrate Israel’s relationship with its Arab neighbors, as well as for resolving the standoff with the Palestinians.

Our allies must undermine the ideology of those who want to harm their own citizens, a goal towards which Trump has been working. It is an ongoing and consistent message because the threats are advancing and becoming much more consistent. And as the threats continue to advance, it’s imperative that the U.S. military and our allies have the tools necessary to do the job.

Liberal critics and the media will say what they want, but Trump's speeches in the Middle East were very clear. The U.S. is fighting an ideology — Islamic extremism — and not the religion of Islam.

Trump continued his trip to NATO headquarters in Brussels and at the G-7 Summit in Sicily, moving forward with the message of unity among our NATO allies. While terrorism was a topic of discussion, Trump confronted world leaders and demanded that they start finally paying their NATO dues. Of the 28 member countries, only four besides the United States spend the required two percent of GDP on defense. And on top of their current dues, they owe massive amounts from past years.

NATO is essential to international security from all threats, but in reality, NATO is not the fighting machine it should be. Not only is it unfair to the American taxpayers to continue to bear such a disproportionate burden, it weakens NATO's effectiveness.

We should be proud to have a president who asserts leadership on the world stage, who has a concrete plan to combat radical Islamic terrorists and wants to unite all of our allies against this common threat to all of humanity. Trump has certainly made great progress towards the goals of security and prosperity for all Americans, and as he said, he now has renewed hope that nations regardless of faiths, can work together.

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JuanPablo Andrade is an advisor on President Trump's Hispanic Advisory Council and National Diversity Coalition and a spokesman for America First Policies, a pro-Trump nonprofit organization.

[knarf]

A smart, bold man with some very capable co-workers and an absolutely gorgeous and accomplished wife.

The world and certainly Europe and the Middle East never had a chance.

[DoughtyOne]

I’m encouraged to see how Trump has turned things around since January 20th. Very good...

This trip was good, but his first 128 days were equally as good.

We have a leader again.

[Dick Bachert]

We’re getting to “crunch time” here. Have you sent a follow-up message to Trump?
Here’s the link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/#page

DB

Dear Mr. President,
As expected, you are under incredible pressure to keep us in the Paris Climate international wealth redistribution SCAM. That you have thus far resisted that pressure is a testament to your courage and willpower.
All those of us who supported you — and STILL DO — need to know about how disastrous is the Paris deal is that virtually ALL the European and other officials you met on your trip URGED YOU TO REMAIN IN THE THING.
The judgement of those who leaned on you to do so — Trudeau, May, Merkel and others — MUST be taken into account: They are the same folks (freeloaders?) who resent that you asked them to pick up THEIR share of NATO costs and who invite murderous muslims into their nations, guaranteeing the destruction of their cultures and more atrocities like Manchester.
You are MUCH smarter than they are. You also possess a quality they — and the previous occupant of your office — appear to lack: YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY!
That you do REQUIRES that you take us OUT of the bogus Paris deal.
Regards and welcome back to “The Swamp”.
Dick Bachert

[SMARTY]

And, no smarmy ‘apologies’ to other leaders for things the US never did or DID do with every right to do!

[SkyDancer]

No it wasn’t. He didn’t go visit alphabetically .../s

[equaviator]

President Trump is The Bomb!

[arthurus]

Islamic extremism — and not the religion of Islam.

Trump is reiterating a version of the Obama claptrap. Islam and Islamic extremism are one and the same.Read the Islamic Systems Operating Manual, better known as the Koran. For further insights read the Haditha and the Biography. There is no contradiction among them after the superseded Meccan suras.

[blueplum]

Just to clear something up about the NATO trip.

Several outlets have claimed that the leaders were laughing and disrespecting Trump as he gave his prepared speech to Nato members, starting with their responsibility to pay their 2%.

If you watch the below video, you’ll notice that other than Macron talking to someone momentarily, everyone was listening quietly. It’s not until Trump says (mark 1:47) he won’t ask the cost of the new NATO center, but it is beautiful, that everyone smiles or laughs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgSDDj6H33g

[TChris]

Islam and Islamic extremism are one and the same

How do you reconcile the fact that we have nearly 6000 Muslims serving in the US military, fighting terrorists?

[arthurus]

That is dangerous. Major Hassan. The fragger in Iraq, etc. What is there to "reconcile?" Some rare minor sects are no problem, such as the Druses and even Alewites. One or two ethnic versions are no problem like the Circassians, but all of these are regarded as illegitimate sects in Islam- apostates. That takes them out of the requirement for Jihad and Shariah. They are a very tiny portion of Islam, however.
Moslems, soldiers or citizens don't suddenly radicalize. The potential is always there. Their belief is radical from the time they memorize their first suras as small children. At some point some get a call and do their thing for Jihad. Who gets that call is only predictable for a small part of those who go out to kill. Who gets the call and when depends on what the umma needs for the propagation of Islam.