(05-21-2017 09:56 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(05-21-2017 06:49 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  Trump and co having a pretty good, and uneventful trip overseas so far. Looks like the Saudis are willing to work with him and it looks like someone on team Trump was able to convince him to stay on script. I did find two things interesting.
One was that, after Trump and the Republican party's fascination with the use of the term "radical Islam" (or Obama's lack of its use), team Trump followed suit. Also, Trump did a little bow to the king (?) during the medal ceremony, and the world did not come tumbling down.
Maybe this is new Trump?

He leaned over to let the much shorter King put a medal over his head. He didn't go 90 degrees like his predecessor.

I am not sure what the left wants him to do about "radical Isalm". Do they want him to say it or not? I think they would find a reason to criticize either way. Personally, I am happy he is using some good judgement in what to say and where to say it.

Jonathan Carl on ABC News (on This Week with George Stephanopolous) this morning said The King met Trump at the plane, a gesture of respect he never extended to Obama. Both Karl and Roger Zelazny (CNN. State of the Union with Jake Tapper)) said there was lots of signs of welcome there, including billboards with Trump's image on them and (I think) an image of Trump played on the side of the hotel.

Oh, I'm happy he avoided the term radical Islam. It was not inline with his, or his supporters, way of looking at the terrorist threats in the Middle East, but well inline with the best approach for actually discussing the challenges there. That line had become such a totem for Right that I wasn't pleasantly surprised he decided to avoid its use (not sure why you thought otherwise). I think those on the left after generally happy as well. Speaking for myself, I would rather someone use their head, regardless of how hypocritical it is, than be stubborn and risk angering and insulting a huge swath of people.

And, this is silly, but watch the video again, Trump does a little bow after having the medal put around his neck. The only reason I bring this up is because of how stupid it was that obama got dinged for it and the fact that I saw a Fox article that mentioned how Trump didn't bow when he met the King, but then he didn't so during the medal ceremony. The fact that there was the Fox article in the first place is laughable.

But like I said, it looks like the Saudis are willing to work with trump, despite all of his bluster on the campaign trail and before that. They can be a powerful ally in the Middle East.