Story highlights
- Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia Saturday
- His speech is aimed at uniting against terrorism
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (CNN)President Donald Trump looked to make clear that the United States is not at war with Islam in a major speech here on Sunday, instead defining the battle against terrorist groups as a "battle between good and evil" as he urged Muslim-majority countries to redouble their counterterrorism efforts.
"This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations," Trump said. "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."
In a departure from the Islamophobic rhetoric he sometimes deployed on the campaign trail, Trump acknowledged that the overwhelming majority of victims of terrorism are Muslim, calling Islam "one of the world's great faiths." He also dismissed "Islamists" as the "footsoldiers of evil," with no religious legitimacy, effectively putting distance between Islam and the ideology that fuels terrorist groups like ISIS.
While Trump promised that he was "not here to lecture" the Muslim world, his speech went beyond outreach. In his most forceful argument on Sunday, Trump exhorted Muslim-majority countries to do more to eradicate terrorist groups that claim the mantle of Islam, urging Muslims to "drive out" terrorists.
"Drive them out," Trump said. "Drive out the terrorists. Drive out the extremists. 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."
Middle Eastern countries "cannot wait for American power," Trump said, but must instead "decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children."
The major speech, which Trump delivered Sunday during an Arab-Islamic-American summit in Riyadh to leaders of 55 Muslim-majority countries, marks Trump's first effort to reach out to the world's 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide. The speech was aimed at resetting his relationship with the Muslim world after making a slew of Islamophobic remarks on the campaign trail, calling for a ban on Muslims and declaring "Islam hates us."
Donald Trump: 'I think Islam hates us' 00:52
The speech came as the Trump administration defends his executive order banning visitors from six Muslim-majority countries, which was blocked in federal court. The order has been criticized as an attempt for Trump to legally implement his Muslim ban.
Despite his toned down rhetoric, Trump warned the leaders gathered in Riyadh on Sunday that inaction on their part would bring "suffering, death, despair" and listed a series of actions Muslim countries must take to win the battle against terrorists.
"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," Trump said. "Muslim majority countries must take the lead in stamping out radicalization."
Trump sought to disassociate terrorism from religion, but urged Muslim majority countries to "honestly" confront "the crisis of Islamic extremism and the Islamists and Islamic terror of all kinds.
Photos: President Trump's first foreign trip
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One on Saturday, May, 27, 2017, at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. They were headed back to the United States after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe.
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President Trump greets people on May 27, after speaking to US troops at Naval Air Station Sigonella.
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President Trump addresses US troops and their families on May 27, at the Sigonella Naval Air Station.
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President Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on May 27, to address US military personnel and families at Naval Air Station Sigonella.
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Leaders of the G-7 and some African nations pose for a photo on May 27, on the second day of the G-7 summit in Taormina, Italy.
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President Trump gestures on May 27, during a G-7 session.
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President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arrive for a concert of the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra while in Taormina, Italy, on Friday, May 26. The Trumps are in Italy for a two-day G-7 summit.
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Trump and other leaders pose for a group photo at the G-7 summit on May 26. From left are European Council President Donald Tusk, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Trump, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
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Trump and Trudeau walk together after the group photo.
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G-7 leaders congregate during a walking tour on May 26.
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Trump embraces new French President Emmanuel Macron on May 26.
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The leaders watch a French air squadron.
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Melania Trump arrives at the City Hall in Catania, Italy, on May 26. She was wearing a $51,500 Dolce & Gabbana jacket as she met with other spouses of G-7 leaders.
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Trump shakes hands with Macron in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, May 25. They were attending a NATO summit as the alliance officially opened a new $1 billion headquarters.
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Trump stands with other world leaders during a NATO photo shoot on May 25.
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Trump speaks with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a working dinner at NATO headquarters.
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Trump stands next to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the NATO summit.
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Melania Trump visits the Magritte Museum in Brussels with Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.
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A girl takes a selfie with Melania Trump at a children's hospital in Brussels on May 25.
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Trump meets with Macron in Brussels.
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Trump walks with European Council President Donald Tusk, center, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, right, after they met at the European Council in Brussels on May 25.
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Trump, third from right, attends a meeting with leaders at the European Council.
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Trump speaks with King Philippe of Belgium as Queen Mathilde and Melania Trump chat during a reception at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Wednesday, May 24.
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Tusk talks to Trump as he welcomes him in Brussels.
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Trump stands with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel while the national anthem is played during Trump's arrival in Belgium on May 24.
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Protesters in Brussels demonstrate with effigies of Trump and Michel on May 24.
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Trump shakes hands with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome on May 24.
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Pope Francis stands with Trump and his family during a private audience at the Vatican on May 24. Joining the President, from left, are Trump's son-in-law, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner; Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump; and first lady Melania Trump.
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Trump and the Pope exchange gifts. Trump presented the Pope with a first-edition set of Martin Luther King's writings. The Pope gave Trump an olive-tree medal that the Pope said symbolizes peace.
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Trump and his wife look at the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.
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Trump speaks to reporters in Rome during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, right, on May 24.
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The first lady visits a pediatric hospital in Vatican City on May 24.
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Melania Trump arrives at the Vatican on May 24. With Vatican protocol in mind, she wore a black veil and long-sleeved black dress draped down to her calf. Ivanka Trump wore a similar outfit with a larger veil.
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President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wave at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on Tuesday, May 23. Trump gave a speech there, reaffirming his country's commitment to Israel while also holding up Judaism's historical ties to the United States.
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People take pictures of the message Trump wrote at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on May 23.
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With the help of US Marines, Trump and his wife lay a wreath at Yad Vashem.
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Trump meets with Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, on May 23. Trump met with Israeli leaders the day before and said he believes both sides "are ready to reach for peace."
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A Palestinian security official takes position before the arrival of Trump's convoy in Bethlehem, West Bank.
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Israeli and American activists hold signs Monday, May 22, during an anti-Trump protest next to the US embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Melania Trump and Israeli first lady Sara Netanyahu speak to children during their visit to the Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem on May 22.
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Trump talks to reporters as he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on May 22. Trump sought to rebut claims that he damaged Israeli intelligence capabilities by revealing highly classified information to Russian operatives earlier this month. "Just so you understand, I never mentioned the word or the name Israel," Trump told reporters as he began the second leg of his first foreign tour.
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Trump touches the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, while in Jerusalem on May 22. Trump became the first sitting US president to visit the wall.
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Trump stands in the Western Wall plaza. To his left, in black, is Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rabbi of the Western Wall.
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First lady Melania Trump, in white, visits the Western Wall. At far left is Ivanka Trump.
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The President and first lady plant a tree in Jerusalem with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
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Trump is welcomed by Netanyahu upon arriving in Tel Aviv on May 22. Trump started his trip with two days in Saudi Arabia.
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On the way to Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One.
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While in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Trump attends the inauguration ceremony for the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology. Joining him here are Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, center, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, left.
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Trump speaks in Riyadh during the Arab Islamic American Summit on Sunday, May 21. Trump looked to make it clear that the United States is not at war with Islam. "This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations," he said. "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."
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Trump sits at the summit, which included leaders from 55 Muslim-majority countries. He urged them to do more to eradicate terrorist groups that claim the mantle of Islam. "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," Trump said. "Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in stamping out radicalization."
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Trump poses with other leaders at the Arab Islamic American Summit.
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Saudi King Salman shakes hands with Trump on May 21. Trump is the first US president to start his first foreign trip in the Middle East.
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Trump meets with other heads of state in Riyadh on May 21.
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Trump speaks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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First lady Melania Trump chats with children during a visit to the American International School in Riyadh on May 21.
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While in Riyadh, President Trump meets with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on May 21.
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President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi share a laugh during a meeting on May 21. El-Sisi complimented Trump on his "unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible." Trump exchanged pleasantries back, praising el-Sisi's shoes.
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Trump is handed a sword during a welcoming ceremony at Riyadh's Murabba Palace on Saturday, May 20.
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Trump sits with members of his staff and Cabinet before a meeting with Saudi King Salman on May 20.
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Trump and King Salman take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh on May 20. The two leaders oversaw the signing of a defense deal worth nearly $110 billion.
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The Trumps look at a display of modern art at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh.
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King Salman presents Trump with a gilded necklace and medal, the country's highest honor. The distinction also was bestowed upon Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
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The first lady chats with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef at the medal ceremony on May 20.
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Ivanka Trump attends the medal ceremony.
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Trump meets with King Salman after arriving in Riyadh on May 20.
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Soldiers on horseback carry the US and Saudi flags as they escort Trump to the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh.
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Trump is welcomed by King Salman after arriving at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
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The Trumps take part in the welcome ceremony.
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The President and first lady wave from Air Force One after landing in Riyadh.
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"We must stop what they're doing to inspire -- because they do nothing to inspire but kill," Trump said.
Trump, who wants to accelerate the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, signaled Sunday that he understands he needs a more constructive relationship with Muslim countries if he hopes to succeed in his stated goal of destroying ISIS and other terrorist groups.
He highlighted that "in sheer numbers, the deadliest toll" of terrorist attacks "has been exacted on Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern nations."
"More than 95% of the victims of terrorism are themselves Muslim," he said.
Trump's comments came after he ticked down a list of major terrorist attacks in the US and also noted that Europe has "also endured unspeakable horror."