A PRESIDENT TRAVELS – AT 8:17 A.M. ET:  Late this week President Trump will embark on a major foreign trip, one of the most important any president has taken in recent memory.  He will go to the Mideast and to the Vatican.  At the White House, National Security Advisor Herbert McMaster explained, quite eloquently, the purpose of the trip.  I haven't seen much mention of this event in the mainstream media.  Have you?  McMaster: 

The trip has three core purposes.  First, to reaffirm America's global leadership.  Second, to continue building key relationships with world leaders.  And, third, to broadcast a message of unity to America's friends and to the faithful of three of the world's greatest religions.  

The President prioritizes building strong relationships, as you see here, every day with world leaders as a way to strengthen our alliances.  And he's been successful.  You can see that in his diplomacy with a range of leaders, from Prime Minister May to President Xi.

President Trump understands that America First does not mean American alone -- to the contrary. Prioritizing American interests means strengthening alliances and partnerships that help us extend our influence and improve the security of the American people.  

This trip is truly historic.  No President has ever visited the homelands and holy sites of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslims faiths all on one trip.  And what President Trump is seeking is to unite peoples of all faiths around a common vision of peace, progress, and prosperity.  He will bring a message of tolerance and of hope to billions, including to millions of Americans who profess these faiths.  The President will focus on what unites us.  

The President's trip will begin in Saudi Arabia, home to the two holiest sites in Islam.  He will encourage our Arab and Muslim partners to take bold, new steps to promote peace and to confront those, from ISIS to al Qaeda to Iran to the Assad regime, who perpetuate chaos and violence that has inflicted so much suffering throughout the Muslim world and beyond.

He will lead the first steps toward a stronger, more capable, and more robust security partnership with our Gulf, Arab, and Muslim partners.  And he will develop a strong, respectful message that the United States and the entire civilized world expects our Muslim allies to take a strong stand against radical Islamist ideology, an ideology that uses a perverted interpretation of religion to justify crimes against all humanity.  He will call for Muslim leaders to promote a peaceful vision of Islam.

The President will then travel to Israel.  With President Rivlin and Prime Minister Netanyahu, he will reaffirm America's unshakeable bond to the Jewish state.  With President Abbas, he will express his desire for dignity and self-determination for the Palestinians.  And so to leaders and peoples alike, across the entire trip, he will demonstrate his hopes for a just and lasting peace.  

In Rome, the President will be honored to accept an audience with Pope Francis.  He looks forward to paying his respects and to discussing religious freedom, ways to combat religious persecution, human trafficking, and cooperating on humanitarian missions across the globe.

COMMENT:  A fine statement of purpose.  Carrying out the vision will be difficult.  Other presidents have failed.  Mr. Trump's predecessor failed miserably and did more harm than good.

Our warmest wishes should be with this president, who is determined to see results.  But I suspect that the major media will start tearing him down as soon as Air Force One takes off.

May 15,  2017