President Trump touted the importance of repairing U.S. relationships and “restoring America’s standing” in the world during his weekly address, published just hours after Trump ordered a missile strike on an air base in Syria in response to the Assad regime’s suspected chemical attack.
“In matters both economic and military, we understand that a strong America is in the best interests of the world — that is why it is so important that as we strengthen international partnerships, we ensure these partnerships deliver real results for Americans and the American people,” Trump said.
The president highlighted a series of meetings with foreign leaders this week at the White House and at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Fla., estate. Trump met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Jordanian King Abdullah and Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, even as his administration grappled with a response to the chemical attack in Syria that left dozens of civilians dead.
“Providing security for the American people also means restoring America’s standing in the world,” Trump said in his weekly address. “From the very start of my presidency, I have worked to strengthen our alliances and improve our relationships all around the globe.”
Trump has repeatedly sought to pin blame for the situation in Syria and for broader regional instability on his predecessor, who had shied away from direct confrontation with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Citing recent figures from the Department of Homeland Security, Trump also highlighted the progress his administration has made toward securing the border — a key promise from his campaign.
“Security begins at the border — as a candidate, I pledged to take swift and decisive action to secure the border, and that is exactly what I have done,” Trump said. “With quick and bold steps, we have so far exceeded even the most bullish predictions for the progress we could make in so short a period of time. Last month, we saw a 64 percent reduction in illegal immigration on our southern border.”
Trump noted his immigration enforcement officers had arrested 153 criminal illegal immigrants in southern Texas alone, and dozens more across the Pacific Northwest and New England.
“Much work needs to be done to reverse decades of harm caused by open border policies from Washington — but, with time, dedication and effort, we will get the job done, and save countless lives in the process,” Trump said.
