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, 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. Hes 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, theres 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 its going to be a sweeping speech. I think youre 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
hes going to have some International Summits with foreign leaders. This is a foreign trip that has a high agenda. Its his first foreign trip so theres certainly a lot of pressure. He told reporters on Air Force One he didnt get a lot of sleep so we understand hes having a little down time before he restarts the day. It was a busy week. There were two key points that were dropped just before President Trump left for saudi arabia. How is the white house reacting to these reports . Is it going to affect the trip . Reporter it could affect the trip, no doubt about that. I think the president himself, his Communication Staff will continue to have to answer some very tough questions about those controversies that you laid out at the top of the show. Late es controversies come on the heels of a number of controversies this past week, which stemmed from the president s controversial decision to fire fbi director james comey. I can tell you theyre pushing
morning joe and first look. What is the president trying to accomplish on this first stop of saudi arabia . Can you look at it from a few different perspectives. Theres the u. S. saudi relationship, what that entails, theres the broader gulf council, and then also the United States and islamic world. If you take a look at them from different layers, the first one is strengthening that bilateral relationship with saudi arabia. We expect the saudis to announce a potential arms deal, billions of dollars. Strong economic prospects on the horizon between these two countries. More importantly, strengthening that relationship. With the broader gcc countries and countries of the gulf, look for them to discuss the issue of iran. That is something that is going to come up repeatedly. Gulf countries are concerned about the rise of iran in yemen, activities in syria. They think iran is a destabilizing factor. Theyre trying to convince President Trump to be more
engaged and have a robust prominence in the region. And finally, the most important meeting will be the summit with 37 Heads Of State from different muslim countries from around the world in which President Trump will try to outline a strategy what he calls radical extremism. With the hopes of trying to get all those countries to play a bigger role in either creating, for example, a nato of sorts to fight in syria or to even combat terrorism in different forms, whether its finance and funding or the spread of the ideology. Hes got a very aggressive agenda. If he comes out there and checks the boxes on all of those and gets what he wants, it will be a successful trip. Some are saying that will be a bit of a challenge. Three key points to Pay Attention to here. The saudis are also expected to give President Trump a royal welcome today. What can you tell us about that . If theres one thing saudis do well, its pomp and circumstance. Youve definitely seen that already with their arrival on the red carpet at the tarmac. King salman went out to the airport himself to greet him at Air Force One. Something he did not afford President Obama when he arrived last year. This is a different tone. Its being cat Gore Ri Ining Cam as a reset. You see the Military Fly Joefrs on the outside of the ritz carlton hotel, where the president is staying, a palatial hotel. They projected an image of donald trump and king salman on the outskirts of that hotel. They resident holding back on the pomp and circumstance to show they are welcoming him. The fact the saudi king was able to bring to the kingdom 37 Heads Of State, six heads of government, it shows you how much the saudis bent over backwards to make this a successful trip for President Trump. They want him to feel like hes going to get a win. Thats what they set out to do
by putting together this very busy schedule over the course of the next 24 hours or so. President trump will be making a speech tomorrow. What are you hearing about that and how much of a shift from his past rhetoric about islam is he actually expected to make . Interesting. Well see the kind of language he uses in that speech. Keep in mind President Trump as Candidate Trump really did not hold back his disdain for the religion, for islam, for muslims. In fact, he said all kinds of disparaging things people chash characterized outright he said he called for a complete ban of muslims coming into the United States. Obviously, that was Candidate Trump. Even as president , some people took offense with what they described as the muslim ban, that travel ban he tried to put in place. The speech this time around is
challenges the United States tries to define what if considers to be terrorism and radical extremism and what arab and muslim countries will be able to offer in terms of fighting that ideology. Theres going to be a lot of sticking points. Look for this to be at least a reset of some sorts on that particular issue. Certainly a lot on the table. Stay with me. I want to bring in steve clemons, msnbc contributor and editoratlarge with Atlantic Magazine and colonel jackson, msnbc analyst. This welcome is vastly different from the welcome President Obama got when he visited in April Of 2016 when he was treated by the governor of riyadh. Why do the saudis like trump better . Did the air strike in syria possibly put President Trump over the top . I think you nailed it. I think right now the saudis are trying to push reset with this white house. I think ayman described it beautifully that the saudis have been frustrated with the tilt
president Obamas White House gave to iran or how they saw the tilt in orchestrating, negotiating the iran deal. Whether you support it or not, nonetheless, it gave iran a pathway the saudis have resented and they thought the focus of the white house were too focused on the persian side of the equation and not the sunni muslim side of equation which saudis are the recognized leader. I think theyre trying to push reset. Theyve had several good meetings. The Foreign Minister has had a number of meetings with Jared Kushner, others in the white house. Theyre trying to put that forward. Theyre also trying to say, you know, anything they can show that is different than President Obama, that the Trump White House is willing to jump into as well. Have you two parties trying to redefine the relationship right now. Cole kel nell jacobs, one thing ayman mentioned is this big formal announcement. Its a 100 billion arms deal with saudi arabia. How will that affect the balance
balance of power in a positive way. Not only ships but helicopters, Cruise Missiles and other munitions. Not all will be delivered right away. Over the long haul it will be a positive influence on our capability to control the region. Steve, you mentioned this earlier, that the arms deal seems to have been hammered out by Jared Kushner who the times reports personally negotiated prices with lockheed martin. Does that seem unusual . Is he shaping The Middle East here . He has a role. We dont know all the details. Theres a lot of details im waiting to see. Im waiting to see the offset arrangements are. Thats a technical term, when foreign nations are using their tax dollars to buy our foreign systems, we obligate technology transfer, which on occasion has affected the american jobs that will be touted as part of this arms deal. Theres a net loss in some capacities on this offset arrangement that go back into these countries. Imagine if the things you bought every day earned you miles to get to the places you really want to go. With the United Mileageplus explorer card, youll get a free checked bag, 2 united club passes. Priority boarding. And 50,000 bonus miles. Everything you need for an unforgettable vacation. The United Mileageplus explorer card. Imagine where it will take you. Before fibromyalgia, i was a doer. I was active. Then the chronic, widespread pain drained my energy. My doctor said moving more helps ease Fibromyalgia Pain. She also prescribed lyrica. Fibromyalgia is thought to be the result of overactive nerves. Lyrica is believed to calm these nerves. Woman for some, lyrica can significantly relieve Fibromyalgia Pain and improve function, so i feel better. Lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. Tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression,
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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. 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 todays events be different from those that took place during former President Obamas 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. Theres discomfort that sort of
narrative and pr the iranians were projecting in a way was balked by the obama white house. Im going to bring in my colleague, Ayman Mohyeldin for a minute. If i can ask you specifically about what the saudis would like to see the United States play particularly in the yemen theater, would they like to see the United States get involved military in yemen . What would be on the top of the list from the saudi kings perspective on what the United States can do to curb what youre describing as irans subversive actions in the region . Dont think theres any expectation the United States will have any boots on the ground. Its the question of increased intelligence sharing and more maybe vigorous role by the u. S. Navy to interdict iranian arms being smuggled from iran to yemen. I think those are the two. Obviously, the supply of arms the Obama Administration had put those particularly certain
ammunitions Precision Ammunition on hold. And the Trump Administration has released those. So, i think that is what were looking for really. Nothing more elaborate than that. Were going to come back with a ceremony as its about to begin. Right now, what Trump Supporters in North Carolina have to say about the last two weeks, especially about the russia probe. Heres some of what youll hear later this hour. I think its a witch hunt and i think there may have been communication with russia. That is totally different from collaborating with russia. And i mean, we need to communicate with the other countries. dog mmm. This newBeneful Grain free is so healthy