Trump to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, Vatican, connect with pope
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday his first foreign trip as president will feature stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican, where he will meet with Pope Francis, an ambitious foray onto the world stage that will include meetings with NATO and a summit in Italy.
Senior administration officials said Mr. Trump chose Saudi Arabia as his first stop to show his commitment to improving U.S. relations with the Muslim world. Mr. Trump will meet with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and other leaders where they are expected to discuss efforts to defeat terrorism and discredit radical ideologies, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe internal planning.
Mr. Trump, joining religious leaders in the Rose Garden on Thursday, said his first foreign trip would “begin with a truly historic gathering in Saudi Arabia with leaders all across the Muslim world.”
The announcement follows Mr. Trump’s meeting on Wednesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his optimistic pledge to mediate peace efforts between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Mr. Trump has sought to forge strong ties with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of his presidency in hopes of facilitating peace. The visit to Israel will reinforce that alliance, officials said.
His visit also will give him the opportunity to connect with Roman Catholics with his visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The White House said the president met privately Thursday with Roman Catholic cardinals.
During the campaign, when asked about Mr. Trump’s border wall with Mexico, Pope Francis famously said anyone who wants to build a wall is “not Christian.” Mr. Trump shot back that it was “disgraceful” for a religious leader to question someone’s faith.
U.S.-Australia bonds
Mr. Trump says he and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have had a “productive discussion” about issues important to their nations during their first face-to-face meeting.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Turnbull got off to a rocky start during their first telephone conversation in January, soon after Mr. Trump took office. Mr. Trump says it “got a little bit testy” but denies the tone was any harsher than that.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Turnbull addressed a blacktie dinner aboard the USS Intrepid to mark the 75th anniversary of a World War II naval battle in the Coral Sea in which the U.S. and Australia fought the Japanese.
N. Korea sanctions
The Republican-led House on Thursday overwhelmingly voted 419-1 to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang targeting its shipping industry and use of slave labor. The Senate must take up the measure next.
At the same time, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pressed Southeast Asian governments to ensure “leak-proof” enforcement of sanctions against North Korea.
The American diplomacy came as South Korea’s presidential favorite, liberal Moon Jae-in, signaled ahead of the election next Tuesday that he would probably bring a softer touch to relations with Kim Jong Un’s regime.
Meanwhile, North Korea issued a rare direct criticism of China through a commentary saying its “reckless remarks” on the North’s nuclear program are testing its patience and could trigger unspecified “grave” consequences.