Issues for the benefit and safety of the american people. By grandstanding and political sizing the investigation into russias actions, james comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to negotiate with russia. James comey is ready to break his silence, seming an invitation to testify in open session before the Senate Intelligence committee at some point after memorial day. Lets go now to riyadh, saudi arabia, where Nbcs Kristen Welker is traveling with the president today. In a few minutes, President Trump will officially be welcomed by the saudi royals. What will that look like . Reporter well, this is going to take place at the royal court palace. It will include the first lady and then a little bit later on the president will have a bilateral meeting with king salman. This is a day thats going to be filled with pomp and circumstance and the president will be meeting with saudi and arab leaders. His goal is to have a bit of a
reset, to send the message hes not antimuslim, des
well received in saudi arabia. what messages are saudi leaders looking to hear from the president? i think a confirmation really of what the administration has expressed so far. so the administration has come around to the saudi view that iran is the major driver of insecurity in the region and, actually, is as dangerous as isis. and the administration has, in the person of their secretary of defense and national security advisers, have said that on numerous occasions. so, i think that appreciation of joint risk that we see coming from iran is very important. and we expect the president will be reiterating that. and the fact that the first line of defense really against terrorism starts with countries like saudi arabia that are on the front line of fighting terrorism.
reset, to send the message he s not anti-muslim, despite the kroefrsal comments he made on the campaign trail, despite his travel ban which bans people from predominantly muslim countries. he has a big ask as well. he wants this region to get more enganged in the fight against sis. he s being met with optimism, enthusiasm. they see him as someone who a counterpoint to former president obama. someone who will be tougher on iran. certainly, there s skepticism as well given some of his controversial comments. the president also hoping to turn the page on all of those controversies you just mentioned. the president is reportedly looking to reset relations with the muslim world in his saudi speech. how do you think he might do that? reporter: well, i think it s going to be a sweeping speech. i think you re going to hear him reach out to the muslim world, talk about the significance that this is his first step. that is by design. he wants to send a strong
moments from now we are expecting the official saudi welcoming ceremony for president trump to begin. this is a live picture around the saudi palace where that ceremony will be taking place. that was president trump arriving, the royal welcome. it s an attempted to turn the page between saudis and u.s. after relations faltered under the obama administration. joining me is executive director of the arabia foundation, author of a new op-ed in the new york times headlined what saudi arabia needs to hear from trump. great to have you here this morning. thank you. in your op-ed you say, the saudis will be listening intently this weekend for even more reassurance from mr. trump that the iran page has truly been turned and it s back on track. is that the main goal for saudi arabia, gaining assurances from trump on iran?
saudi arabia is on the front line of fighting isis and is on the front line of fighting terrorism. the fact the president is coming there is a confirmation of that. and how will today s events be different from those that took place during former president obama s trips to saudi arabia? look, president obama, the problem with president obama is people in saudi arabia felt president obama underestimated the risk that the iranian regime showed really, or the underlying risk of iranian in the middle east. they feel iranians have a dog and pony show. they have a foreign minister and president that speak nicely with moderation but the people who really run iran, the supreme leader and revolutionary guard are working on subversion, from syria to yemen. there s discomfort that sort of