This page is from the August 2020 version of our site, serving as a reliable record of the accomplishments of President Trump's Administration

The Trump/Pence administration’s position and policy in regard to Iran is outlined in President Trump’s September 24, 2019 address to the General Assembly of the United Nations. In his speech, he stated the following:

One of the greatest security threats facing peace-loving nations today is the repressive regime in Iran. The regime’s record of death and destruction is well known to us all. Not only is Iran the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism, but Iran’s leaders are fueling the tragic wars in both Syria and Yemen.
At the same time, the regime is squandering the nation’s wealth and future in a fanatical quest for nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. We must never allow this to happen.

To stop Iran’s path to nuclear weapons and missiles, I withdrew the United States from the terrible Iran nuclear deal, which has very little time remaining, did not allow inspection of important sites, and did not cover ballistic missiles.

Following our withdrawal, we have implemented severe economic sanctions on the country. Hoping to free itself from sanctions, the regime has escalated its violent and unprovoked aggression. In response to Iran’s recent attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, we just imposed the highest level of sanctions on Iran’s central bank and sovereign wealth fund.

All nations have a duty to act. No responsible government should subsidize Iran’s bloodlust. As long as Iran’s menacing behavior continues, sanctions will not be lifted; they will be tightened. Iran’s leaders will have turned a proud nation into just another cautionary tale of what happens when a ruling class abandons its people and embarks on a crusade for personal power and riches.

For 40 years, the world has listened to Iran’s rulers as they lash out at everyone else for the problems they alone have created. They conduct ritual chants of “Death to America” and traffic in monstrous anti-Semitism. Last year the country’s Supreme Leader stated, “Israel is a malignant cancerous tumor…that has to be removed and eradicated: it is possible and it will happen.” America will never tolerate such anti-Semitic hate.

Fanatics have long used hatred of Israel to distract from their own failures. Thankfully, there is a growing recognition in the wider Middle East that the countries of the region share common interests in battling extremism and unleashing economic opportunity. That is why it is so important to have full, normalized relations between Israel and its neighbors. Only a relationship built on common interests, mutual respect, and religious tolerance can forge a better future.

Iran’s citizens deserve a government that cares about reducing poverty, ending corruption, and increasing jobs“ not stealing their money to fund a massacre abroad and at home.

After four decades of failure, it is time for Iran’s leaders to step forward and to stop threatening other countries, and focus on building up their own country. It is time for Iran’s leaders to finally put the Iranian people first.

America is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect.

Here is a link to the transcript of President Trump’s 9/24/19 address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the whitehouse.gov website: President Trump at UN 74th Session

The Trump/Pence administration’s position and policy in regard to relations with China is outlined in President Trump’s September 24, 2019 address to the General Assembly of the United Nations. In his speech, he stated the following:

The American people are absolutely committed to restoring balance to our relationship with China. Hopefully, we can reach an agreement that would be beneficial for both countries. But as I have made very clear,* I will not accept a bad deal for the American people.

As we endeavor to stabilize our relationship, we’re also carefully monitoring the situation in Hong Kong. The world fully expects that the Chinese government will honor its binding treaty, made with the British and registered with the United Nations, in which China commits to protect Hong Kong’s freedom, legal system, and democratic ways of life. How China chooses to handle the situation will say a great deal about its role in the world in the future. We are all counting on President Xi as a great leader.

* In this speech at the United Nations, the President specifically addressed trade with China. This portion of his speech appears in the “Trade” page of our website. Here is a link to this page: Trade

Here is a link to the transcript of President Trump’s 9/24/19 address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the whitehouse.gov website: President Trump at UN 74th Session

July 6, 2017

President Trump drew praise from the U.S. media for being tough on Russia in his speech to the Polish people in front of the Warsaw Uprising Monument at Krasinski Square, in Warsaw:

On July 6, 2017, on Fox News, Charles Krauthammer stated:

I thought the way he treated Polish history was amazing. Normally we harp on the depredations of the Nazis. Trump went out of his way to harp on the depredations of the Soviets, both during the Second World War when they stood outside the gates of Warsaw and allowed it to be razed and destroyed by the Nazis. . . and then heaping opprobrium on how the Soviets treated Poland during the Cold War. And then to top it off he talked about the monopoly -“ he was obviously talking about the Russians -“ the use of monopoly and pressure in energy resources that’s been going on. This was a very anti-Russian speech.

In a July 7, 2017 blog, Mark A. Theissen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, referenced Charles Krauthammer’s comments, stating:

Krauthammer is right. When it comes to energy, Trump promised to reach a long-term deal to deliver liquefied national gas (LNG) to Warsaw and other countries in the region, declaring “We are committed to securing your access to alternate sources of energy, so Poland and its neighbors are never again held hostage to a single supplier of energy.” Who do you think he meant by a single supplier? Estonia? Obviously, he was referring to Russia.

Trump said the words “free” and “freedom” 21 times in his speech. And his speech was extremely tough on Russia. In addition to criticizing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Trump criticized Russia for “its support for hostile regimes -“ including Syria and Iran” and urged Moscow “to instead join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defense of civilization itself.”

The foregoing paragraphs are excerpts from Marc Theissen’s July 7 2017 blog appearing on the website of the American Enterprise Institute. Here is a link to this article on this site: Trumps-Warsaw-speech

The Trump/Pence administration’s position and policy in regard to Venezuela is summarized in President Trump’s September 24, 2019 address to the General Assembly of the United Nations. In his speech, the President stated the following:

We are committed to supporting those people in the Western Hemisphere who live under brutal oppression, such as those in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
According to a recent report from the U.N. Human Rights Council, women in Venezuela stand in line for 10 hours a day waiting for food. Over 15,000 people have been detained as political prisoners. Modern-day death squads are carrying out thousands of extrajudicial killings.

The dictator Maduro is a Cuban puppet, protected by Cuban bodyguards, hiding from his own people while Cuba plunders Venezuela’s oil wealth to sustain its own corrupt communist rule.

Since I last spoke in this hall, the United States and our partners have built a historic coalition of 55 countries that recognize the legitimate government of Venezuela.

To the Venezuelans trapped in this nightmare: Please know that all of America is united behind you. The United States has vast quantities of humanitarian aid ready and waiting to be delivered. We are watching the Venezuela situation very closely. We await the day when democracy will be restored, when Venezuela will be free, and when liberty will prevail throughout this hemisphere.

One of the most serious challenges our countries face is the specter of socialism. It’s the wrecker of nations and destroyer of societies.

Events in Venezuela remind us all that socialism and communism are not about justice, they are not about equality, they are not about lifting up the poor, and they are certainly not about the good of the nation. Socialism and communism are about one thing only: power for the ruling class.

Today, I repeat a message for the world that I have delivered at home: America will never be a socialist country.

In the last century, socialism and communism killed 100 million people. Sadly, as we see in Venezuela, the death toll continues in this country. These totalitarian ideologies, combined with modern technology, have the power to exercise new and disturbing forms of suppression and domination.

Here is a link to the transcript of President Trump’s 9/24/19 address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the whitehouse.gov website: President Trump at UN 74th Session

June 10, 2020:

Senior secular and religious leaders from around the world are applauding President Trump's efforts to advance religious freedom worldwide.

Trump's Executive Order on Advancing International Religious Freedom, signed on June 2, declares that

 "America's first freedom is a moral and national security imperative," and that "Religious freedom for all people worldwide is a foreign policy priority of the United States, and the United States will respect and vigorously promote this freedom.”

Practically, the order "prioritize[s] international religious freedom in the planning and implementation of United States foreign policy and in the foreign assistance programs of the Department of State and USAID," allotting "at least $50 million per fiscal year" for programs that advance international religious freedom.

Moreover, it mandates training in religious liberty for all state department employees.

Hungarian State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians, Tristan Azbej, told Church Militant on Thursday that he "welcomed" Trump's Executive Order, calling it "an important step because of the increasing religious intolerance, which particularly affects hundreds of millions of Christians all over the world."

"The United States is a flag-bearer of international religious freedom," Azbej said, adding, "the United States can continue to count on [Hungary] in the global fight for religious freedom."

Referring to one of the key departments cited in the president's order, Azbej said, "We at the Hungary Helps program are proud of our partnership with the USAID [United States Agency for International Development]".

Prelates from persecuted and war-ravaged nations in the Middle East and Africa --countries supported by the Hungarian secretary's unique efforts --have also spoken out about the significance of the president's order.

Chaldean archbishop Bashir Warda of Erbil, Iraq told the National Catholic Register that "Having directly experienced persecution, crimes against humanity and genocide because of our commitment to our faith, we are deeply grateful for the efforts of the [Trump] administration to maintain an international focus on this issue."

Christians and Muslim converts to Christianity suffer persecution and death in Iraq. Christian aid organization Open Doors ranks the level of persecution as "very high" and reports that "Christians are dealing with a drastic reduction in their population since ISIS began their attacks, along with trauma for those believers who have stayed in their country."

Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan spoke of the "courage" of President Trump and told the National Catholic Register that he hoped the order would extend to the defense and preservation of civil rights, job creation and promotion of religious dialogue. Compatible with the goals of Hungary Helps to repatriate refugees to their homelands, the patriarch posted recently he also firmly hoped that effective "humanitarian programs" referred to in the executive order, would "ensure the survival of my community ... in order to stay rooted in their ancestral homeland."

President Trump's order effectively put the persecution of Christians and other religions "on the front burner," Nigerian bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto told the National Catholic Register. He added the move he says is especially welcome "in the face of the crippling secularism that is trying to push religious identity to the sidelines."

President Trump signed the order on June 2 at the White House after praying at the nearby Pope St. John Paul II shrine, an act which Washington's Archbishop Wilton Gregory called “baffling and reprehensible”. Observers have called out the archbishop for lying by saying he was "baffled," as he knew about the president's plan to visit the shrine -- indeed was invited to join the president in prayer --a week before.

The foregoing paragraphs are excerpts from the June 10, 2020 article appearing on the website of Church Militant. Here is a link to this article on this site: Religious Leaders Applaud Trump

Link to read Executive Order: Religious Freedom Executive Order

September 23, 2019

India's Prime Minister Narenda Modi and President Trump rallied together in Houston, Texas with about 50,000 Indian-Americans to hail the economic partnership between the two countries and endorsed their shared values.
Modi also shared his admiration for the president and his leadership in the United States.

“I admire him for something more: his sense of leadership, a passion for America, a concern for every American, a belief in American future, and a strong resolve to make America great again,” he said as the crowd applauded. “He has already made the American economy strong again. He has achieved much for the United States and for the world.”

Modi said every time he met Trump, he was struck how friendly he was, describing him as “warm, friendly, accessible, energetic, and full of wit.” He said that Trump promised him that as the president of the United he would be a “friend of India.”
He also praised Trump for his continuing commitment to fighting terrorism.

“I would like to reiterate the fact that President Trump is firmly committed to fighting this battle against terrorism,” he said, prompting a standing ovation from the community in the stadium.

The foregoing paragraphs are excerpts from the September 23, 2019 article appearing on the website of Breitbart. Here is a link to this article on this site: Narendra Modi Endorses Donald Trump

February 15, 2020:

President Trump has taken a strong position in insisting that European nations pay their financial contributions as required by the NATO Agreement. This has resulted in European countries committing to increase their payments to NATO by $400 billion. Previous U.S. administrations had allowed European nations to avoid making financial contributions to NATO, causing the U.S. to unfairly carry the burden.
On February 15, 2020, during the Fox News Channel’s “Cavuto Live,” Neil Cavuto asked the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell about President Trump’s tough stance and his tweeting. The ambassador replied:
“It makes my job so much easier. We as diplomats have to be at the forefront of trying to solve problems. You don’t want to have a war. You want to avoid war, which means diplomats need to be able to talk. If you want to really solve problems, you better have diplomats who are really tough, diplomats who know how to push and know how to cajole. Because the alternative is to transfer the file over to the Department of Defense. So, I like having a president who’s willing to be very tough. Look, we can also talk about whether or not the style of the president works. I think $400 billion in new defense promises for NATO members is one surefire way to point to the fact that the president’s style has worked.”

Watch live here: Richard Grenell
Source: Breitbart.com – clips - 02/15/20

Jan. 8, 2020

President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, vowing to place new sanctions on Iran following Tuesday night's attack on a Iraqi military base that hosts U.S. forces. Excerpts from the speech include:

For far too long -- all the way back to 1979, nations have tolerated Iran’s destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond. Those days are over. Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism, and their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world. We will never let that happen.

Last week, we took decisive action to stop a ruthless terrorist from threatening American lives. At my direction, the United States military eliminated the world’s top terrorist, Qasem Soleimani. As the head of the Quds Force, Soleimani was personally responsible for some of the absolutely worst atrocities.

He trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terrorist strikes against civilian targets. He fueled bloody civil wars all across the region. He viciously wounded and murdered thousands of U.S. troops, including the planting of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims.

Soleimani directed the recent attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq that badly wounded four service members and killed one American, and he orchestrated the violent assault on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. In recent days, he was planning new attacks on American targets, but we stopped him.

By removing Soleimani, we have sent a powerful message to terrorists: If you value your own life, you will not threaten the lives of our people.

Iran’s hostilities substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013, and they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash. Instead of saying "thank you" to the United States, they chanted "death to America."

Then, Iran went on a terror spree, funded by the money from the deal, and created hell in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The missiles fired last night at us and our allies were paid for with the funds made available by the last administration. The regime also greatly tightened the reins on their own country, even recently killing 1,500 people at the many protests that are taking place all throughout Iran.

Peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment violence, unrest, hatred, and war. The civilized world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime: Your campaign of terror, murder, mayhem will not be tolerated any longer. It will not be allowed to go forward.

Three months ago, after destroying 100 percent of ISIS and its territorial caliphate, we killed the savage leader of ISIS, al-Baghdadi, who was responsible for so much death, including the mass beheadings of Christians, Muslims, and all who stood in his way. He was a monster. Al-Baghdadi was trying again to rebuild the ISIS caliphate, and failed.

Finally, to the people and leaders of Iran: We want you to have a future and a great future -- one that you deserve, one of prosperity at home, and harmony with the nations of the world. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.
Sources: NBCNews.com  -- ’ 1/08/20 Iran seems to be standing down
NBCNews.com -- ’ 1/07/20 Iran Retaliates

On May 21, 2017, In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President Trump spoke to the leaders of 50 Muslim nations. Here are excerpts from this speech:

Our vision is one of peace, security, and prosperity - in this region, and in the world.

Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to God.

And so, this historic and unprecedented gathering of leaders - unique in the history of nations - is a symbol to the world of our shared resolve and our mutual respect. To the leaders and citizens of every country assembled here today, I want you to know that the United States is eager to form closer bonds of friendship, security, culture and commerce.

Yesterday, we signed historic agreements with the Kingdom that will invest almost $400 billion in our two countries and create many thousands of jobs in America and Saudi Arabia.

Later today, we will make history again with the opening of a new Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology --’ located right here, in this central part of the Islamic World. This groundbreaking new center represents a clear declaration that Muslim-majority countries must take the lead in combating radicalization.

America is a sovereign nation and our first priority is always the safety and security of our citizens. We are not here to lecture--“we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership --’ based on shared interests and values --’ to pursue a better future for us all.

We must be united in pursuing the one goal that transcends every other consideration. That goal is to meet history’s great test--“to conquer extremism and vanquish the forces of terrorism.

With God’s help, this summit will mark the beginning of the end for those who practice terror and spread its vile creed. At the same time, we pray this special gathering may someday be remembered as the beginning of peace in the Middle East --’ and maybe, even all over the world.

But this future can only be achieved through defeating terrorism and the ideology that drives it.

The potential of this region has never been greater. 65 percent of its population is under the age of 30. Like all young men and women, they seek great futures to build, great national projects to join, and a place for their families to call home.

But this untapped potential, this tremendous cause for optimism, is held at bay by bloodshed and terror. There can be no coexistence with this violence.

Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death.

If we do not stand in uniform condemnation of this killing--“then not only will we be judged by our people, not only will we be judged by history, but we will be judged by God.

This is not a battle between different faiths, different sects, or different civilizations.

This is a battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions who seek to protect it.

This is a battle between Good and Evil.

But we can only overcome this evil if the forces of good are united and strong --’ and if everyone in this room does their fair share and fulfills their part of the burden.

Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land.

America is prepared to stand with you --’ in pursuit of shared interests and common security.

But the nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them. The nations of the Middle East will have to decide what kind of future they want for themselves, for their countries, and for their children.

It is a choice between two futures - and it is a choice America CANNOT make for you.

A better future is only possible if your nations drive out the terrorists and extremists.

Muslim nations must be willing to take on the burden, if we are going to defeat terrorism and send its wicked ideology into oblivion.

The first task in this joint effort is for your nations to deny all territory to the foot soldiers of evil. Every country in the region has an absolute duty to ensure that terrorists find no sanctuary on their soil.

Religious leaders must make this absolutely clear: Barbarism will deliver you no glory --’ piety to evil will bring you no dignity. If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and YOUR SOUL WILL BE CONDEMNED.

But no discussion of stamping out this threat would be complete without mentioning the government that gives terrorists all three--“safe harbor, financial backing, and the social standing needed for recruitment. It is a regime that is responsible for so much instability in the region. I am speaking of course of Iran.

Until the Iranian regime is willing to be a partner for peace, all nations of conscience must work together to isolate Iran, deny it funding for terrorism, and pray for the day when the Iranian people have the just and righteous government they deserve.

Source: Whitehouse.gov - FOREIGN POLICY - May 21, 2017

Link: Trump Speech

"That attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me. Big impact. That was a horrible, horrible thing." – President Donald Trump, April 6, 2017

When Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly used chemical weapons against his own people, U.S. President Donald Trump answered with punitive missiles. Assad violated previous agreements, said Trump, and the United States had a security interest "to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons."

But ultimately, Trump said, it was the cruel destruction of children that stirred him to act.

"When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, with a chemical gas that is so lethal that people were shocked to hear what gas it was, that crosses many, many lines – beyond a red line," Trump told to the press following his action against Syria.

Immediately after the strike, Trump took to the podium to explain that "Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women, and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror."

The president appealed to universal conscience: "Tonight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types."

Then, the president concluded with a prayer and a caveat: "We ask for God's wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. We pray for the lives of the wounded and for the souls of those who have passed, and we hope that as long as America stands for justice, then peace and harmony will in the end prevail."

Images of dead babies were broadcast to the world. Trump called their murder an "affront to humanity," worthy of severe punishment.

Source: Renewamerica.com - Siena Hoefling - [Updated April 24, 2017 – originally posted April 14]

Link to the full article: Child Terrorism