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US Muslim Group Advices Trump on Islam Speech

Muslim News Staff
18 May, 2017

WASHINGTON – After the announcement of President Trump’s scheduled speech outlining his “hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam” during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, a leading American Muslim civil rights group advised him to avoid “pejorative terminology” and “anti-Muslim stereotypes” promoted by some of his advisers.

“If President Trump wishes to reach out to ordinary Muslims in the Middle East and around the world, he should avoid the pejorative terminology, anti-Muslim stereotypes and counterproductive policies promoted by Islamophobic advisers such as Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka,” Nihad Awad, National Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a statement sent to AboutIslam.net.

“Instead, he should offer a vision for a future in which Muslims and people of all faiths and backgrounds can live free of the oppression of dictators or the dictates of extremists.

“A truly inspiring speech would focus on the universal desire for justice, freedom and human dignity. As God says in the Qur’an, Islam’s revealed text, ‘The Word of thy Lord finds its fulfillment in truth and in justice.'” (6:115)

In his first visit abroad as president, Trump will arrive Friday in Saudi Arabia.

The week-long trip abroad will include discussing selling $100 billion worth of weapons to the Saudis who are driven by the West to see neighboring Muslim countries like Iran as their threat, followed by a visit with the Vatican’s Pope Francis.

White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, who had a key role in the controversial “Muslim ban” executive orders, will reportedly help write the president’s speech on Islam.

The president’s national security adviser H.R. McMaster recently said Trump will “deliver an inspiring yet direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and the president’s hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world.”

“The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America’s commitment to our Muslim partners,” said McMaster.

Awad noted that Trump adviser Gorka has repeatedly refused to answer whether the president believes Islam is an actual religion.

“The president’s upcoming speech offers an opportunity to clarify whether or not he believes Islam should be respected as a major world faith,” he said.

Social Media Reacts

The announcement that Trump will speak on Islam during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia has caused hilarious reactions on social media.

The announcement has spawned countless memes, tweets and Facebook posts, with social networks unable, or perhaps unwilling, to come to terms with Trump’s intention.