Trump takes credit for Arab cut off to major US ally - calls it 'beginning of the end' of terrorism

Advertisement

trump saudi arabia

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

President Donald Trump delivers a speech during Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 21, 2017.

Advertisement

President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning that Arab leaders had blamed Qatar for funding "Radical Ideology" during his visit to Saudi Arabia last month.

"So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off," Trump continued.

"They said they would take a hard line on funding ... extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!"

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates severed diplomatic ties with Qatar on Monday over its government's alleged support for extremist and terrorist organizations.

Advertisement

The actions were necessary due to the "gross violations committed by authorities in Qatar over the past years," according to a statement from a Saudi official.

Trump's tweets Tuesday morning contrast with statements he made last month during a meeting with Qatar's emir in Saudi Arabia, in which Trump said "our relationship is extremely good."

"We are friends. We've been friends now for a long time, haven't we?" Trump said in the meeting.