RIYADH – In a strikingly different approach from his predecessor, Donald Trump will give a speech in Saudi Arabia on combatting the so caller “radical Islam”, in his first abroad as a US President.

“Trump will speak to around 50 Muslim leaders and will take part in opening a center there which is dedicated to promote moderate Islam,” said H. R. McMaster, Trump’s National Security Adviser, The Independent reported on Wednesday, May 17.

“The president will deliver an inspiring but direct speech on the need to confront radical ideology and the president’s hopes for a peaceful vision of Islam to dominate across the world,” he continued.

“The speech is intended to unite the broader Muslim world against common enemies of all civilization and to demonstrate America’s commitment to our Muslim partners,” McMaster added.

The visit, planned at the end of this week, echoes a similar visit in 2009 by the former President Barack Obama to Cairo where he gave a speech on Islam.

Nevertheless, the content of Trump’s speech is expected to contradict very much with that of Obama.

The week-long trip abroad will include discussing selling $100 billion worth of weapons to the Saudis who are driven by the West to see neighboring Muslim countries like Iran as their threat, followed by a visit with the Vatican’s Pope Francis.

Trump’s choice of Saudi was seen as a bit bizarre as he accused the rich gulf-country of producing 9/11 attackers.

Trump’s presidency has also witnessed a rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes and bias incidents, particularly in the US.

Trump was accused by critics of stoking this wave of attacks by engaging in anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric. In December 2015, he proposed to ban all Muslims from entering the US and claimed that he saw Muslim people “clapping and cheering” as the Twin Towers fell.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of US reported a spike in such incidents of 67% in 2015. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also recorded “unprecedented levels” of anti-Muslim incidents and attacks against mosques across the US.