Army Lt. General H.R. McMaster — President Trump's new national security adviser — suggested during a closed-door meeting last week that the president stop using the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism," according to Politico.
During his first meeting with the National Security Council last week, McMaster told staff to consider the phrase unhelpful. McMaster also advised the president's speech writer, Stephen Miller, not to use it in Tuesday night's speech, according to a White House aide.
Still, the phrase echoed throughout President Trump's campaign, made it into last night's address to a joint session of Congress.
"Our obligation is to serve, protect, and defend the citizens of the United States. We are also taking strong measures to protect our Nation from Radical Islamic Terrorism," said President Trump during the speech.
Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush both avoided using the phrase, citing expert opinions that the words alienate the majority of Muslims who are not radical. The phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" become a rallying cry in recent years for conservatives who believe Islam is at odds with western culture and values. President Obama used the term "violent extremism," to avoid making reference to any specific religion. McMaster also didn't approve of that approach, a senior National Security Council official said, according to Politico.
