Trump to emphasize ‘peace and stability’ in Saudi Arabia speech: report

President Trump is expected to cast the fight against radical Islamism as a “battle between good and evil” in an upcoming speech in Saudi Arabia, The Associated Press reported Friday.

In the address, set to take place in Riyadh on Sunday, Trump will cast aside the disparaging remarks against Muslims he made as a presidential candidate in favor of a call for unity with U.S. allies in the Middle East.

According to the AP, the speech will not push for greater attention to human rights and democracy – topics that have been hallmarks of past president’s messages to Saudi Arabia and other Arab allies in the region.

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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to preview the president’s message during a news conference on Thursday, saying that Trump’s overseas trip would focus on addressing the “battle about good and evil.”

“I think the importance of this trip and President Trump’s leadership around bringing people the world over to understand we are in this together,” he said. “This is not a battle about religions. This is not a battle about cultures. This is a battle about good and evil.” 

Trump departed Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on Friday afternoon for Saudi Arabia, his first stop in a nine-day trip to five different countries that will include Israel, Italy and Belgium.