A forthcoming major speech in Saudi Arabia by Donald Trump on the need to confront radical Islam is being drafted by an advisor who devised the 'Muslim ban' policy which was blocked by the US courts, according to reports.
Trump's speech, which will be delivered to around 50 Muslim leaders in Saudi Arabia during his international tour which begins later this month, is reportedly being written by Stephen Miller, who played a key role in the travel ban from seven Muslim-majority countries that did not include Saudi Arabia.
The speech is likely to be in stark contrast to that given in 2009 by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama in Cairo, entitled 'A new beginning,' aimed at rebuilding American relations with Islam following the 'war on terror' under George W Bush.
Miller reportedly wrote Trump's inauguration speech, though Trump has claimed that he wrote it himself.
As a student, Miller co-founded the Terrorism Awareness Project, an initiative run by the right-wing David Horowitz Freedom Center, which has been accused of ties to anti-Muslim hate groups.
Miller said at the time that the project was aimed at educating students about the risk of 'Islamofascism,' a term coined by the British neo-conservative writer Christopher Hitchens.
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,' Trump's national security adviser H R McMaster said.
'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,' he added.
McMaster is also reportedly contributing to the speech, along with Trump's influential son-in-law Jared Kushner and his deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, CNN reports.
Controversially, Saudi Arabia was not on the list of countries affected by Trump'stravel ban.
During the presidential campaign, Trump proposed to ban all Muslims from entering the US and claimed he saw Muslims 'clapping and cheering' as the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001, in a claim that has been disputed.
Trump is planning to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican - where he will meet Pope Francis - Brussels and Sicily during his first foreign trip.
