President Trump mixed up the wording of some of his speech in Saudi Arabia Sunday because he was “exhausted,” a senior White House official said.
“He’s just an exhausted guy,” the official told reporters on background, explaining why Mr. Trump didn’t say “Islamic extremism” in his speech to leaders of more than 50 Muslim-majority nations.
Instead, Mr. Trump departed ever so slightly from his prepared remarks, saying “Islamic extremism” rather than “Islamist.” He didn’t use the word “radical.”
During the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump criticized President Obama and others for refusing to use the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism.”
The president was on the third day of a nine-day, whirlwind trip taking him to the Middle East and Europe, his first trip abroad as president.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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