In his first major foreign policy speech, the immediate previous “president” ventured into the heart of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and essentially agreed to partner with the terrorist organization to overthrow many governments in the Middle East through Arab Spring. While he didn’t say that specifically, the destabilization of the Middle East was the result. This was a new direction for America in foreign policy regarding terrorism-that the US was not at war with Islam and never will be, according the ex-“president.” At the same time, he fudged history saying that Islam and America share a rich history together-in reality, it is a sordid and violent history. Enter Donald Trump with a new message of nuance.
Trump went to Saudi Arabia where some of the most extreme Islamic violence is taught and exported through Wahhabism, yet many American politicians turn a blind eye to this as they pony up to Saudi money and influence. Trump was polite, but he had a different message to the Arab world than his predecessor. He said, “America is a sovereign nation and our first priority is always the safety and security of our citizens. We are not here to lecture-we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership – based on shared interests and values – to pursue a better future for us all.”
Trump also made terror-which is nearly exclusive to Islam-a central theme of his speech. He said, “But above 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…God’s help, this summit will mark the beginning of the end for those who practice terror and spread its vile creed. At the same time, we pray this special gathering may someday be remembered as the beginning of peace in the Middle East – and maybe, even all over the world. But this future can only be achieved through defeating terrorism and the ideology that drives it.”
He invoked “God” several times without defining who God is (allah or YHVH) and allowed each hearer of his message to personally determine who God is. But it was clear when he said that ending terrorism means “standing together against the murder of innocent Muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of Jews and the slaughter of Christians.” He said that religious leaders who choose the path of terror will have empty, brief lives and their souls “will be condemned.” Trump continued as did his predecessors to gloss over the huge theological differences between Islam and those of Jews and Christians, but he put a stake in the ground against terrorism and the practices of Islam. This is pragmatic and prophetic.
Prophetic because he is saying emphatically that support of terrorism is condemnation of the soul and the US will not tolerate the slaughter of innocents, as Islam calls for in its Koran. In practicality, Trump is saying that the war against Jews and Christians is no longer acceptable or justified by actions that occurred centuries ago. Prophetically, he is saying America is back to supporting Israel against the extremism of Islam. Bottom line: God said of Israel in Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee.” As a nation, we’ve had over a decade of declining relations with Israel and have suffered dire consequences for it. Now we have a chance to establish a different prophetic path.
