President Donald Trump took the high road in attempting to reset the tone on Islam.
President Donald Trump took the high road in attempting to reset the tone and substance of his views of Islam this weekend in Riyadh. His reset was dramatic and sorely needed. We applaud the discipline he exhibited in reforming his views.
On the campaign trail, of course, Trump’s take on the major world religion was disastrously wrongheaded and viciously hardhearted. Among his comments were jewels like “I think Islam hates us” and “We have a problem in this country: it’s called Muslims.” He said he would consider shuttering mosques on our soil and creating a database of Muslims. Presumably, such a black list could help in his call for killing the families of terrorists.
And his call “for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” contributed to the judicial rejection of the travel ban he attempted, twice, to enact against several Muslimmajority countries.
Upon assuming office, he continued to use the term “radical Islamic terrorism,” despite sage advice from his national security adviser, H.R. McMaster.
But on Sunday, Trump managed to mostly stick to a McMaster-inspired script in a speech addressed to the Muslim world from the heart of the Saudi kingdom. Referring to jihadists as “Islamist extremists” is a good-faith way of directing the ire where it’s needed, and appropriate. Trump also said, “Young Muslim boys and girls should be able to grow up free from fear, safe from violence, and innocent of hatred. And young Muslim men and women should have the chance to build a new era of prosperity for themselves and their peoples.”
And: “Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death.”
Yes, Trump signaled that he would depart from President Barack Obama’s laudable example of calling Muslim leaders to see to basic human rights in their countries. Regrettably, Trump said he wouldn’t lecture countries over their take on human rights, which is terribly lacking in places like the Saudi kingdom.
Also heartening so far on Trump’s first overseas trip as president has been his ability to control his tantrums on Twitter and otherwise. Following the chaos that followed Trump over his firing of James Comey, the FBI director, his more statesman-like approach has been refreshing.
One wonders, if Trump were better able to follow the advice of reasonable advisers, focus on the responsibility of the office and avoid the kind of campaign-trail antics that he finds so tempting, whether this rocking ship might right itself.
Either way, we hope that that the hardliners in this country who so thrilled to Trump’s Muslim baiting tuned in and give serious consideration to the president’s address on Islam. “This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects or different civilizations,” Trump said, rightly focusing on rooting out the “barbaric criminals” who pervert teachings to justify their unjustifiable pursuits.
Against such a willfully hateful enemy, the goal should be to enlist mainstream Muslims, not alienate them. Trump finally took the high road on this one. We hope he remains there.