Note: Our itinerary included
–  Tel Aviv & Jerusalem in Israel,
–  Bethlehem in West bank, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia
–  Vatican City – the holy city for Catholics,
–  Brussels in Belgium, Rome and Sicily in Italia

Melania and I just returned from our 1^st foreign trip
Our first stops were Middle East (Saudi Arabia) and Israel
(I know, I know,  I said to the president of Israel “We just got back from the Middle East” – it was for emphasis that I care about Middle East)
It was tremendous, we were treated like royalty
Our welcome was all pomp and show, no vitriol

The underpinning of my message to both –
the Arabs and the Europeans
(2nd half of our itinerary)
My guiding principle is “America First”
and my responsibility is to protect & enrich Americans

Saudi Arabia was the first foreign stop
The king of Saudi Arabia greeted me at the airport
(This gesture was denied to Obama!)
I rode in a gold cart with King Salman
I did a traditional sward dance, being a good sport

They projected my photo on the local Trump hotel
They awarded me their highest civilian honor
It’s not a secret, they very very much like me
Our relationship is becoming ever stronger & strained no longer

I know, as a private citizen, I have said many –
very very bad things⁽¹⁾ about Saudi Arabia & its norms
But, now I praised them as great friends & tremendous hosts
Thanks to their purchase of $110B worth of arms

I also met with leaders of a Gulf coalition,
and leaders from across the Muslim nations
I gave a speech about Islam without denigrating it
(isn’t this ironic!)
I refrained from preachy human right abuse condemnations

I said that America wants “partners not perfection”
and that I didn’t come to “lecture”.
I believe that problems can be solved with terrific “deals”
The Middle East is at a crucial juncture

Sisi, the leader of Egypt, invited me to visit his country
He said that I am a unique personality
and that I am capable of doing the impossible
I told Sisi that “I agree”; I surmise he likes my vitality

From the Middle East, I traveled to Israel
There I expressed America’s solidarity –
with a close ally & long time friend
After Obama’s rebuffs, they welcomed my sincerity

I met with the president & prime minister of Israel
I visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
I also visited the Western Wall –
As the 1^st sitting US president ever

I told Israeli leaders I have “found new reasons for hope”
I believe I can help clinch the ultimate deal: Mideast peace
I told Israeli officials I was “deeply encouraged” by
my conversations in Saudi Arabia regarding Mideast peace

From Jerusalem, I traveled to Bethlehem
To meet with the President of Palestine Authority
I told them “I am truly hopeful that America can help”
After years of conflict, making peace should be a priority

After visiting with the Pope,  I had to change gear as I flew to Brussels to meet with the officials of the European Union and the leaders of the 28 NATO countries

—- Please see the post labeled President Trump’s First International visit – Part II Europe

Common Ending:

I am told that I was soft on Saudi Arabia
and other Gulf Council Leaders
and, I was hard on Europeans
What can I say, European are losers; I like winners

I prefer strong leaders similar to those I found in the Middle East
My idol for strong leadership is my friend Putin
Authoritarian regimes can make fast decisions and get things done
They like me, they really really like me – there is no disPutin(g)

Dishonest media will certainly ignore all that I accomplished
They will fill their columns with fake news, critical of my travels
I know I had a great trip, may be the best presidential oversees trip ever
(as my tweet said)
“Trip was a great success for America. Hard work but big results!”

God Bless America – land that I love!

(1) Some of what Trump said about Saudi Arabia as a private citizen
Private citizen Trump said “It’s the world’s biggest funder of terrorism. Saudi Arabia funnels our petrodollars, our own money, to fund the terrorists that seek to destroy our people”
Trump summed up Salafism by saying that Saudis “want women as slaves and to kill gays”.
Once Trump accused a Saudi prince of wanting to “control U.S. politicians with daddy’s money”
During the campaign Trump rallied against Muslims, indicted the Saudis as the architects of the Sept 11 attacks and said that the Saudis want to keep “want women as slaves and to kill gays”