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In Speech to Muslim World, Trump Calls Terrorism Fight 'A Battle Between Good and Evil'

May 21, 2017

President Trump cast the global fight against terrorism as a "battle between good and evil" during an address to the Muslim world Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

"If we do not stand in uniform condemnation of this killing, then not only will we be judged by our people, not only will we be judged by history, but we will be judged by God. This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations," Trump said. "This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and ... people who want to protect life and protect their religion. This is a battle between good and evil."

Trump's speech is one of the key portions of his first foreign trip since taking office. He will next visit Israel.

Trump sharply criticized Islam on the campaign trail and repeatedly chastised the Obama administration for failing to refer to "radical Islamic terrorism." He did not use the phrase Sunday.

During the campaign, he also called for a total "shutdown" of Muslims entering the U.S. until American leaders could figure out "what the hell is going on."

His tone on Sunday was more measured, but Trump challenged the leaders of the Muslim world to drive the terrorists out of their lands and "out of this Earth."

"A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and drive out the extremists," he said. "Drive them out. Drive them out of your places of worship. Drive them out of your communities. Drive them out of your Holy Land, and drive them out of this Earth."

He added that terrorists are not truly God-fearing people.

"Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person and falsely invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith," he said. "Terrorists do not worship God. They worship death."

"Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory; piety to evil will bring you no dignity," Trump said. "If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be fully condemned."

Trump closed the remarks with a call to unite under one unbeatable banner against terrorism.

"I ask you to join me, to join together, to work together and to fight together, because united, we will not fail," he said. "We cannot fail. Nobody, absolutely nobody, can beat us."