President Donald J. Trump recently concluded a prominent address in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he painted a hopeful picture for the Middle East, outlining his vision for a more stable region and a peaceful global landscape.
Key Highlights from the Address:
- “Exactly eight years ago this month, I found myself in this very room, envisioning a future where the nations of this region would eliminate the forces of terrorism and extremism. My hope was to witness you emerge as some of the proudest and most prosperous nations globally, leading a modern and rising Middle East.” (Watch)
- “Before our very eyes, a new wave of leaders is moving beyond the ancient conflicts and outdated divisions of the past. They are crafting a future where the Middle East is characterized by commerce rather than chaos; where technology is exported instead of terrorism; and where individuals from diverse nations, religions, and backgrounds collaborate to build cities rather than destroy them.” (Watch)
- “This significant transformation hasn’t been the result of Western interventionists lecturing you on how to live or govern. The modern marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not birthed by ‘nation-builders,’ ‘neo-cons,’ or ‘liberal non-profits’—those who wasted trillions in failed attempts to develop Kabul and Baghdad. Instead, it is the people of this region who have driven the emergence of a modern Middle East, crafting sovereign nations, pursuing unique visions, and steering their own destinies.” (Watch)
- “Ultimately, those self-proclaimed ‘nation-builders’ have caused more destruction than development, intervening in complex societies they scarcely understood.” (Watch)
- “After decades of conflict, we are finally poised to grasp a future that prior generations could only dream of—a land characterized by peace, safety, harmony, opportunity, innovation, and achievement right here in the Middle East.” (Watch)
- “I am here today not only to condemn the past chaos instigated by Iran’s leaders, but also to present them with a new and improved path toward a brighter future.” (Watch)
- “As I have demonstrated repeatedly, I am committed to ending past conflicts and forging new partnerships for a more stable world, even if our differences are significant.” (Watch)
- “My first choice will always be peace and partnership whenever those outcomes are attainable. Always.” (Watch)
- “In recent years, many American presidents have been plagued by the belief that it is our duty to peer into the souls of foreign leaders and use U.S. policy to mete out justice for their misdeeds. I hold that it is God’s role to judge, while my responsibility is to safeguard America and promote the fundamental interests of stability, prosperity, and peace.” (Watch)
- “In response to repeated attacks on American vessels and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the U.S. military executed over 1,100 strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Consequently, the Houthis agreed to cease hostilities. We struck hard, achieved our objectives, and then withdrew.” (Watch)
- “My administration is prepared to assist Lebanon in creating a future of economic development and peace with its neighbors.” (Watch)
- “In Syria, which has endured immense suffering and loss, a new government has emerged that we hope will stabilize the nation and maintain peace.” (Watch)
- “If the responsible nations of this region seize this opportunity, set aside their differences, and concentrate on the unifying interests that bind them, all of humanity will soon be astonished by what unfolds right here in this geographical epicenter of the world—a spiritual heart for its greatest faiths.” (Watch)
