This has certainly been a month with religion at the heart of international politics. As the French elections unfold and the UK’s snap vote approaches, the religion and beliefs of our politicians’ are being closely scrutinised.
In the midst of the fast-paced news this week, President Donald Trump has announced his first foreign trip – turning his attention first of all towards Saudi Arabia, followed by visits to Israel and the Vatican. It isn’t a coincidence that he will spend a similar amount of time in each state, meeting faith as well as political leaders and hopefully learning more about the Abrahamic religions and their global dynamics than he might expect.
Being a cautious optimist at heart, I am encouraged that Donald Trump has given equal weight and time between the three Abrahamic faiths. He is treating them not only as an early priority in this overseas visit, but giving them equal significance. He is also making a statement by visiting Saudi Arabia first, which is an opportunity for him to set a new tone in comparison to his previous critical remarks against Islam.
His so-called attempted “Muslim ban” and his condemnation of Mexican immigrants are just two examples of times where it felt as though Trump would never express tolerance of certain groups of people. This is a chance to re-set and many will be listening closely to his remarks to Israeli leaders, possibly at Masada, and Palestinians in Bethlehem.
There is the need for tolerance now more than ever, not only in the new US administration, but across the globe. When we place this example of interfaith outreach against the way Trump spoke about Islam just a few months ago, we can see a stark contrast – with a glimmer of hope.
Trump has confounded his critics a number of times by going against their expectations (and at times, confounded them all over again by reverting back to type) – so there is always a possibility he could switch direction in dramatic fashion. Even as quickly as the time it takes him to compose a single tweet.
While this possibility remains, it could be we’re seeing Trump change by emphasising tolerance in his approach, however – and there is one key reason why.
It cannot be denied that Trump’s candid rhetoric, and anti-establishment stance were two of the main reasons he became President.
And it is this frankness that has already led him to reconsider the health reforms he espoused, openly acknowledging that the complications of the policy area were previously unknown to him.
My hope is that he uses this visit in the same way, to learn more about the Abrahamic faiths, the differences and similarities between them, and understand the value of building bridges rather than call for walls.
If Trump can truly take his first foreign trip as a learning exercise – we may be surprised at how some of his policies may yet unfold.
