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U.S. NEWS Saturday 20 May 2017
Trump mitted to the pact.
And in Sicily, the president
will meet with the other
Continued from front leaders of the G7, a gath-
ering of Western economic
He tweeted Friday morn- powers. Key parts of the
ing: “Getting ready for group are unsettled by
my big foreign trip. Will be Trump’s unpredictability
strongly protecting Ameri- and his willingness to cheer
can interests - that’s what on nationalist sentiment.
I like to do!” Trump’s itinerary is heavy
Each stop comes with high with religious symbolism.
stakes. He’ll visit the birthplace of
In Saudi Arabia, the presi- Islam, the Jewish home-
dent — whose campaign land and the Vatican. Of-
was marked by heated ficials say the message is
anti-Muslim rhetoric and “unity.”
whose administration has “He strongly believes that
tried to enact a travel ban it is the strength of the faith
from several Muslim-majori- of people in these religions
ty countries — will deliver a that will stand up and ulti-
speech to the Islamic world mately be victorious over Ultra-Orthodox Jews pass by a billboard welcoming President Donald Trump ahed of his visit, in
meant to be a clear con- these forces of terrorism,” Jerusalem, Friday, May 19, 2017. President Trump will pay a two day visit to Israel and West Bank
trast with the vision Obama Secretary of State Rex Til- on May 22 and 23, 2017. Associated Press
laid out in his first trip to the lerson said.
region. Administration officials make real news. But the style questions. ... Every first Follow Lemire on Twitter
In Israel, Trump will meet believe the unexpected downside is that it could be trip is over-scrutinized. The at http://twitter.com/@
with Israel Prime Minister move of going to Saudi dominated by domestic- whole world is watching.” JonLemire
Benjamin Netanyahu, look- Arabia first was meant to
ing to smooth over fresh underscore the serious-
tensions. Israel was in an ness of the United States’
uproar earlier this week af- commitment to fighting
ter U.S. officials confirmed extremist groups like the Is-
Trump shared highly classi- lamic State. Trump, whose
fied intelligence about the denunciations of Iran have
Islamic State group with been welcomed by the
senior Russian officials visit- Saudis, wants to frame the
ing the White House. The conflict not as one be-
information, about an IS tween the West and Islam,
threat related to the use of but simply between good
laptops on aircraft, came and evil, according to his
from Israel and there were aides.
concerns a valuable Israeli While some Middle East
asset could be in danger, leaders will likely greet
a U.S. official said, request- Trump warmly, he could
ing anonymity to discuss receive a far cooler re-
the sensitive material. ception in Europe. Though
National Security Adviser Pope Francis has said he’d
H.R. McMaster added to “never make a judgment
the alarm by refusing to about a person without
declare the Western Wall hearing him out,” others
a part of Israel. U.S. policy on the continent have
holds that ownership of the sharply criticized Trump.
holiest site where Jews can That includes France’s
pray, as with the rest of Je- newly elected President
rusalem, is subject to Israeli- Emmanuel Macron, who
Palestinian negotiation. denounced Trump’s mus-
In Rome, the president will ings on abandoning the
call upon Pope Francis, the Paris climate treaty, a likely
popular, liberal-minded point of contention in Sicily.
pontiff. Trump denounced Trump’s inauguration
Francis during the cam- sparked thousands of pro-
paign, calling him “dis- testers to fill the streets of
graceful” for questioning several European capitals,
his faith. chaotic scenes that could
In Brussels, Trump will attend be repeated during his
a meeting of NATO, the stops in Rome, Brussels and
World War II-era alliance Sicily.
which Trump has repeat- “Welcome to the White
edly mused about aban- House abroad,” said Ari
doning because member Fleischer, President George
states weren’t paying their W. Bush’s former press sec-
fair share. He recently has retary. “This is a great op-
shifted to reassure wary al- portunity for the president
lies that he remains com- to change the subject, to