 announced visits to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome in addition to his pre-planned trip to Europe later this month){kind=link}
Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump on Thursday (May 4) announced visits to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome in addition to his pre-planned trip to Europe later this month, with the White House adding that his first foreign trip is also a tour of three great world religions.
After hosting the Roman Catholic cardinals in the Oval Office, Trump spoke at an event in the Rose Garden of the White House to mark the National Day of Prayer with an executive order on what he called “religious freedom.”
Addressing a gathering of religious leaders Trump called tolerance as “the cornerstone of peace,” adding, “that’s why I’m proud to make a major and historic announcement this morning and to share with you that my first foreign trip as President of the United States will be to Saudi Arabia, then Israel, and then to a place that my cardinals love very much, Rome.”
Sending a signal that his first visit to Saudi Arabia is because it is home to the holiest sites in Islam, the White House said, “President Trump has accepted the invitation of King Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later this month.”
“It is there that we will begin to construct a new foundation of cooperation and support with our Muslim allies to combat extremism, terrorism and violence, and to embrace a more just and hopeful future for young Muslims in their countries,” Trump announced.
Reiterating the goal of peace in the area, Trump said, “Our task is not to dictate to others how to live, but to build a coalition of friends and partners who share the goal of fighting terrorism and bringing safety, opportunity and stability to the war- ravaged Middle East.”
President Trump then travels to Israel, where he will further strengthen the United States-Israel partnership. “They will also discuss ways to advance a genuine and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians,” the White House said.
Traveling next to Italy, President Trump will meet with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 24, according to a Vatican statement. The White House added that President Trump will also meet with President Mattarella of Italy to discuss multilateral cooperation and bilateral relations. President Trump will later participate in the G-7 Summit in Taormina hosted by the Italian President of the Council of Ministers Gentiloni.
From Rome, the President will continue on to previously announced visits to Brussels for the NATO summit and meetings with EU and Belgian leaders, and to Sicily for the G7 meeting.
Tejinder Singh, Editor, India America Today & White House Correspondent