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You're Hired: Tracking the Trump Administration Transition - May 24, 2017
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This is the May 24, 2017, edition of an email sent from November 2016 to September 2017 that covered Donald Trump's presidential transition, cabinet appointees, and the different policy positions of those individuals who may have had an effect on the new administration. Previous editions of "You're Hired" can be found here.
On Friday, May 19, President Donald Trump began his first foreign trip as president. The trip is set to last eight days, with Trump expected to return to the United States on Saturday, after a Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Taormina, Sicily.
Read our overview with details of Trump’s entire foreign trip here.
Today’s edition of You’re Hired will detail this first important trip, telling you where Trump has been, who he’s seen, and what he’s saying.
Saturday, May 20: Saudi Arabia
Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, greeted by King Salman. By including Saudi Arabia on this trip, Trump became the first president to visit the country on his first foreign trip.
After arriving, Trump signed a military arms deal with Saudi Arabia worth $350 billion over 10 years, with $110 billion that will take effect immediately. The deal was struck in an effort to contain Iran. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said, “The package of defense equipment and services supports the long term security of Saudi Arabia and the entire Gulf region in particular in the face of malign Iranian influence and Iranian-related threats, which exists on Saudi Arabia’s borders on all sides."
Sunday, May 21: Saudi Arabia
Trump attended a meeting of 55 leaders of Muslim-majority nations inside King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, where he delivered a speech that focused on promoting peace by building partnerships to end extremism and terrorism. Trump said, "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." He reiterated the point, saying, "[A]bove 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.” During his speech, Trump outlined the following steps in the joint effort to end terrorism:
- Deny sanctuary for terrorists;
- Prevent the financing of terrorism;
- Confront "the crisis of Islamist extremism and the Islamist terror groups it inspires;"
- Stand "together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews, and the slaughter of Christians;"
- Promote "the aspirations and dreams of all citizens who seek a better life – including women, children, and followers of all faiths;" and
- Practice "tolerance and respect for each other once again."
See highlights from Trump’s May 21 speech here.
Monday, May 22: Israel
Trump arrived in Tel Aviv, where he spoke briefly about his desire to affirm relations between Israel and the United States while also calling upon Israel and Sunni Muslim nations to come together in opposition to Iran. Trump indicated that he sees Israel making peace with the Palestinians as part of an agreement to create an anti-Iran coalition. Trump and Sunni Arab nations in the region would like to partner with Israel to create a united front against Shiite-led Iran, but Trump and the leaders he spoke to in Saudi Arabia seem to believe that a resolution between Israel and Palestine must be part of an agreement. Trump said, “I was deeply encouraged by my conversations with Muslim world leaders in Saudi Arabia, including King Salman, who I spoke to at great length. King Salman feels very strongly and, I can tell you, would love to see peace with Israel and the Palestinians. … There is a growing realization among your Arab neighbors that they have common cause with you in the threat posed by Iran, and it is indeed a threat, there’s no question about that.” Also on Monday, Trump became the first sitting president to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray. Trump rested his hand on the wall for a few moments and then placed a note inside of the wall. It is a tradition for worshippers to place slips of paper containing prayers to God in the cracks of the wall. First lady Melania Trump tucked a note into the wall, too.
Tuesday, May 23: Israel
Trump met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, and he once again delivered a message of peace but did not offer concrete steps for Israel and Palestine to take to achieve it. Trump said, “Peace can never take root in an environment where violence is tolerated, funded and even rewarded. We must be resolute in condemning such acts in a single unified voice.” According to The Wall Street Journal, the comment was "a veiled reference to Authority payments to families of prisoners and Palestinians killed attacking Israelis." Trump also chose not to discuss a two-state solution to the conflict, a solution Israel opposes and Palestine supports.
In a speech at the Israel Museum later that day, Trump expressed his condolences for those killed in a terrorist attack in Manchester, England, and renewed calls for building a coalition to fight terrorism globally. He said, "We must build a coalition of partners who share the aim of stamping out extremists and violence, and providing our children a peaceful and hopeful future. But a hopeful future for children in the Middle East requires the world to fully recognize the vital role of the State of Israel. And, on behalf of the United States, we pledge to stand by you and defend our shared values so that together we can defeat terrorism and create safety for all of God’s children."
Wednesday, May 24: Vatican City
Trump traveled to Vatican City and met privately with Pope Francis for 30 minutes. According to a statement from the Vatican, Trump and the pope had "an exchange of views on various themes relating to international affairs and the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue, with particular reference to the situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian communities. It is hoped that there may be serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, engaged in service to the people in the fields of health care, education and assistance to immigrants." The meeting was described as cordial, despite their differences on immigration and climate change, among other issues.
Trump also met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Gallagher. Trump and Melania then visited the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. After meeting with Pope Francis, Trump met with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.
Thursday, May 25: Belgium
Trump is expected to land in Belgium on Thursday. He will hold meetings with King Philippe and Prime Minister Charles Michel before a scheduled meeting with European Union leaders and European Council presidents at the EU headquarters in Brussels. Trump will also meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Brussels before unveiling a memorial and holding meetings at NATO headquarters later that day.
The EU meetings are scheduled to last an hour, when Trump will listen to EU leaders who are expected to emphasize the relevance of the E.U. in maintaining peace and in combating terrorism. One EU source told the BBC, “If [Trump] leaves here with the idea that the EU is in some way useful, that's it. Job done.”
The NATO meetings are expected to have a similar dynamic, with NATO unveiling two artifacts for display (a piece of the Berlin Wall and a shard of metal from the World Trade Center) that suggest the strength of the NATO alliance. On the campaign trail, Trump criticized NATO members for not spending more on defense. In January, he called the organization “obsolete,” saying, “It’s obsolete because it wasn’t taking care of terror. ... And the other thing is the countries aren’t paying their fair share so we’re supposed to protect countries but a lot of these countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to be paying, which I think is very unfair to the United States.” In April, after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump said that changes in NATO policies had made it no longer obsolete.
Because neither meeting is an official summit, neither will have a scheduled press conference after.
Friday, May 26: Sicily
Trump will head the U.S. delegation on the final leg of his first foreign trip at the two-day Group of Seven (G7) meeting in Taormina, Sicily. The president will meet with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The G7 is a group of industrialized democracies that meet to discuss economic and political issues. In March 2014, the G7 suspended Russia from what was the Group of Eight (G8) after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine.
The G7 summit typically brings together seven of the world’s major powers to discuss an agenda of pressing concern to the host country. This year’s summit will feature four first-time leaders: Britain’s Theresa May, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Paolo Gentiloni, and Trump. The group will be joined by leaders from the African nations of Tunisia, Niger, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya. Italy is expected to focus on issues concerning migration from Africa as well as potential aid for African entrepreneurial innovation.
Saturday, May 27: Sicily and travel to U.S.
After the G7 meeting concludes on Saturday, Trump is expected to address American and allied military personnel and their families before returning to Washington, D.C.
See also
- You're Hired: Tracking the Trump Administration Transition
- Donald Trump presidential transition team
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