Trump Hearts Exceptional Saudis

[Fife]

What's going to be DJT's first overseas stop? Of course.


Saudi Exceptionalism: Trump hates radical Islam, except when you can make money from it

It’s hard to fully capture the irony — not to mention sheer repulsiveness — of Donald Trump’s decision to make Saudi Arabia the first stop on his inaugural foreign trip as US president.

The decision marks yet another rapid rhetorical turnaround for Trump. Candidate Trump was not a fan of the Saudi kingdom. In fact, he was not shy at all about calling Riyadh out in ways that his political opponents dared not dream of.

In early 2016, he asked the hosts on Fox & Friends: “Who blew up the World Trade Center? It wasn't the Iraqis, it was Saudi — take a look at Saudi Arabia, open the documents."

. . .

Trump’s righteous indignation and anger towards the Saudis dissipated almost immediately, however, upon taking office. This has been much to the delight of Washington neocons who have been eager to see more aggressive US policy toward Iran, Riyadh’s top regional foe.

[heydaralon]

Caring about Inaugural trips is kind of like caring about what Angelina Jolie wore to the oscars...