Trump takes victory lap in speech to U.S. troops on final stop of foreign trip
President Trump recounted what he called the "home run" successes of his first foreign trip abroad as he addressed American troops stationed at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, Italy, Saturday before heading home to Washington, D.C.
The president discussed his first stop in Saudi Arabia, his trip to Jerusalem, his discussions with European leaders in Brussels, Belgiu, his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome and his interactions with other foreign leaders at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy.
Mr. Trump, who campaigned on withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, delayed a decision on whether to commit to the accord, leaving the other G7 leaders to reaffirm their support without the U.S. on board. The president said he plans to make a decision next week.
On Memorial Day weekend, the president said a "very proud" nation salutes the troops.
"I will give you my complete and unshakable support," Mr. Trump said.
The president also thanked Italian and NATO allies for joining the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and eradicating terrorism.
"Terrorism is a threat, bad threat, to all of humanity," Mr. Trump said. "And together, we will overcome this threat. We will win."
He also told troops they're "going to be doing a lot of winning."
"Do you notice how much stronger we're getting, are you feeling it? Are you feeling it?" Mr. Trump asked.
The president received a resounding welcome from his audience, but when he returns to Washington, he will return to criticism amid several new developments in the ongoing Russia story.
Since he left nine days ago, reports have emerged that Mr. Trump told Russian diplomats firing "nut job" FBI Director James Comey relieved great pressure on him, that his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is under scrutiny in the FBI's Russia investigation and that Kushner proposed setting up back-channel communications between Russians and Trump associates.
Pressure is building in Congress to get more answers of Mr. Trump's White House on ties to Russia. The House and Senate intelligence committees have already been investigating any Russian election meddling, but other committees, like the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, are also looking into the circumstances surrounding Comey's firing and the FBI's Russia investigation.
