Beats the heck out of bowing to them!

My administration is confronting this scourge, and we’re standing with our close friend and partner, the State of Israel. (Applause.) And as you know very well, I recognized the eternal capital of Israel and opened the American embassy in Jerusalem. (Applause.) Thank you.

. . .

And every President has promised that for years and years. And they promise it. “We’re going to recognize the capital of Israel, and we’re going to move the embassy to Jerusalem.” But they didn’t do it.

I understand why because, once I got into office, you have no idea the pressure that was put on. . . . The pressure that was put on me by so many different countries. Calling, “Please don’t do it. Please don’t do it.” The last two weeks, I didn’t take anybody’s phone call. I got calls from kings, you can imagine. I got calls from everybody not to do it. “Please don’t do it.”

So what I did is, I said, “You know what I’ll do? I won’t take their call. I’ll call them back in a couple of weeks.” I said, “Do me a favor. Tell the Prime Minister that I’ll call him back in two weeks. I’m busy.” (Laughter.) He said, “Two weeks? That’s a long time.” “Tell the king I’ll call him back in a few days.” (Laughter.) So, anyway — so I did it.

And then I made all of those phone calls. It had a lot of publicity. And we did it. It was a big story. Nothing happened. Remember the world was going to come to an end, right? Nothing happened. I kept saying, “Are we okay?” “Yeah.” “Is there a protest?” “No.”

Three or four days went by. I said, “Well, what’s going on? This is strange.” But then I started making the calls. I said, “King, what do you want? What’s up, King?” (Laughter.) And he goes, “I wanted to call you to tell you that we would be very much opposed.” And I said, “Oh, I wish I spoke to you sooner. Sorry.” (Laughter.) It’s true.

— Remarks by President Trump at Values Voter Summit
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
October 12, 2019