Washington, DC – US President Donald Trump called on Tuesday evening for an international coalition to wage a “global war” against what he described as “radical Islamic terrorism.” This came during a reception hosted by the White House to mark the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
A call for an international alliance against “forces of evil”.
In a passionate speech to the audience, Trump stressed the need to unite international efforts to confront terrorist threats, saying:
“All nations must unite against the forces of evil represented by radical Islamic terrorism, and we are already doing so.”
Trump’s remarks came in response to the deadly attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, days earlier. The attack left 15 people dead in a shooting as they celebrated Hanukkah. Trump described the incident as “horrific,” expressing his condolences to the victims and their families.
The Sydney attack and the ideology of the “Islamic State”
Trump’s remarks coincided with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that investigations had confirmed the attack was motivated by the extremist ideology of the Islamic State group. He described the incident as one of Australia’s “darkest days” in recent history.
Gaza, Israel, and the American interior
In his speech, the US president addressed several pressing issues. These included the situation in Gaza, where Trump claimed there was now “real peace.” He reiterated his insistence on the return of all prisoners and the bodies of those killed by Hamas.
He reiterated his historic decisions, saying: “I recognized the true capital of Israel and moved the American embassy to Jerusalem.”
Trump also expressed his displeasure with the changing political landscape in Washington. He noted the presence of members of Congress who “hate Israel,” something he claimed did not exist 15 years ago.
Timing implications
These statements come at a time when several countries are on high alert in conjunction with Jewish holidays, particularly following the twin attacks in Sydney and the recent attacks in New York, reinforcing the US administration’s move towards tightening security measures and political rhetoric against extremist groups.
