*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2017 *

**Remarks Prior to a Meeting With President Abdelfattah Said Elsisi of Egypt in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia **

*May 21, 2017 *

*President Trump.* It is really great to have my friend, President Elsisi, with us. We've really been through a lot together, very positively——

*President Elsisi*. Yes.

*President Trump*. ——and helped us so much with Aya and the release of Aya. And the American public so appreciated that. And I want to thank you, and I want to thank the General. Very, very much appreciated.

We have some very important talks going on with Egypt. And you have done a tremendous job under very trying circumstances, and safety seems to be very strong. So we appreciate that, and congratulations on really doing a terrific job. Thank you.

*President Elsisi.* Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you very much for making the time to meet. As a matter of fact, this meeting really speaks of the strategic nature of the relationship between Egypt and the United States. It will be a great pleasure to us in Egypt if we have the privilege of you visiting us in Egypt.

I'd like to reassure you, Mr. President, that Egypt is a capable country. Egypt is secure and stable, and it's going—it's doing very well with the cooperation of the United States. We are looking forward to further our cooperation for the stability of this important part of the world.

Mr. President, let me express our appreciation and respect. And let me say that you have a unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible.

*President Trump.* [*Laughter*] That's very interesting. I agree. [*Laughter*] Well, again, I want to thank you. And I will get to Egypt. We will absolutely be putting that on the list very soon. And this was, really, very much unscheduled. We wanted to say hello to each other, and you were able to come here last minute, and I appreciate that. That's very nice.

And again, we have a fantastic relationship with Egypt. Once again, we were not having such a good relationship with previous administrations. But we have a very, very strong one, and we appreciate what you're doing.

NOTE: The President spoke at 10:13 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Falls Church, VA, resident Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian American aid worker who was released from captivity by the Egyptian Government on April 20 after being held in prison since May 2014 on charges of child abuse and human trafficking. President Elsisi spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter. The transcript, prepared for immediate release by the Office of the Press Secretary, was received by the Office of the Federal Register on July 27.

*Categories:* Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : Egypt, President Elsisi*.*

*Locations: *Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.* **Names:* Elsisi, Abdelfattah Said; Hijazi, Aya*.*

*Subjects:* Egypt : President; Egypt : Relations with U.S.; Saudi Arabia : President Trump's visit.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201700529.