i'm lester holt. thanks for joining us. breaking overnight, president trump gearing up for his much-anticipated speech a short time from now in which he's expected to urge muslim unity in the fight against terrorism. will he leave anti-islamic campaign rhetoric out of the script? one-on-one, the president attempting a reset in relations meeting with the leaders of egypt, ba rain and qatar a short time ago. >> and relationship is extremely good. we have some very serious discussions right now going on. one of the things that we will discuss is the purchase of lots of beautiful military equipment because nobody makes it like the united states. good morning everyone.

i'm dara brown. we have more breaking news north korea yet again test-firing a missile. south korea first reported the unidentified missile which it claims flew about 310 miles. the one fired last week traveled more than 400 miles. there are few details about the launch but we'll get a live report in a few minutes. let's go to riyadh, saudi arabia, where kristen welker is traveling with the president today. kristen, good morning. i know the white house issued a statement on north korea. what have we learned so far? >> reporter: we got that statement a few moments ago, we can do analysis on the other side. this is from a white house official who says they're aware that there was a missile fired. it has a shorter range than the missiles launched in north korea's three most recent tests. we refer you to the department of defense for further

information. now, obviously, president trump has been focused on north korea. this is the fourth projectile launch since he took office. two of them failed. one was thought to be a more substantial missile with a longer range. this is the situation they're watching very closely. the president has obviously engaged in a fair amount of robust diplomacy with china to get that leader to ramp up pressure on north korea to stop these types of provocations. it clearly hasn't worked yet. it's a reminder that the north korea crisis continues to loom large even as president trump is here trying to reset relations with the muslim and arab world. kristen, later today, the president is set to make a major speech about their relations. whatan we expect out of that speech? >> reporter: this is going to be the capstone speech of the president's trip here to saudi arabia. potentially, this entire trip. he has a very lofty goal for

this speech. he wants to really encourage the muslim world to ramp up its en ganl the in the fight against isis and extremism. according to white house officials, his message will be one of encouraging everyone to get engaged in the fight for peace and prosperity. he's going to cast it as a fight as good versus evil, though. he's an unlikely messenger. he made all of the inflammatory comments on the campaign trail, called for a muslim ban. as a candidate, he softened that language. he is trying to put in effect a travel ban. the person behind the speech, steven miller, someone who authored the travel ban. there is a complicated backdrop to the speech. the question is, how will the speech be received? he's going to be delivering it to the leaders of 50 muslim nations. everyone is going to be listening to see if he uses the

term radical islamic terrorism. it's something he talked about on the campaign trail as a candidate. you'll recall that secretary of state hillary clinton didn't use that language. they felt it was provocative and could be used to recruit more terrorists. we know there have been a number of versions of this speech in the works. president trump set to be working on it until he delivers it in just a few hours from now, dara. >> we will have coverage of that eech later this afternoon. kristen, what is the next stop for the president on in trip? >> reporter: his next stop is going to be israel, where his goal there also very robust. he wants to try to restart peace talks. there was a lot of optimism in the region that he was the -- reviewing the optimism has waned because there's not a sense that

prime minister net nanyahu and there's a hole host of sticking points. so the president will be delivering a major speech while he's there. he's going to be meeting with both leaders. a very lofty agenda as he tries to reset the mideast policy. dara? kristen welker live in riyadh for us. thank you so much for that report. let's bring in former ambassador, thomas pick earn. he also served as under secretary for the state of political affairs in the clinton administration. he's currently vice chair at hills and -- thank you for joining us this morning. thank you very much. it's nice to be with you. >> we just heard h.r. mcmaster suggesting we might hear a softening tone. let's take a listen to that. >> thank you. >> i think what the president

does is listens to people. he listens to people in the region. this isn't america on transit here in the middle east. this is the president asking questions, listening, learning. of course, the president will call it whatever he wants to call it. >> ambassador, if there is a softening, would you interpret this as a shift in policy or possibly more a reflection of the circumstances surrounding the speech? >> well, it has to be both, dara. it's important to recognize the herculean task he's undertaken in coming to the middle east and diving in. he has obviously developed the beginning of a very strong relations with saudi arabia. that is, in my view, all to the good. however, it seems to be founded on several problem areas. that it is perhaps more surrounded by an effort to separate himself from iran once again and a way that in the long-term i don't think will resolve the difficulties that exist between iran and the arab

countries, particularly saudi arabia. that could only be done, i think, at the diplomatic table. we're a long way from that. hardening that means, in effect, we're putting into place a set of activities and ideas that will lead to conflict if there's not a way to head that off. that clearly is not in our interest and not in the president's interest. >> ambassador, what will the president's biggest challenge be in sounding the right note in a speech to the muslim world today. >> it will be turning around what he said about islam. making islam a nation of peace. also treating delicately and carefully this question of who are the people that we're most concerned about the terrorists and how do they fit into the context or don't fit into the context of islam. it's an enormously difficult and tricky subject shall even for a leader well-versed and deeply steeped in islam.

we'll have to see. i think h.r. mcmaster was right in soundinghat note. let's hope his advice prevails. it's extremely important that the president be successful in this if we are to have a relationship with the middle east that's going to be, i think, constructive and productive. >> let's talk about that reels ship. he signed a major arms deal worth $110 billion yesterday. how do you think this will impact the middle east? >> well, i think those who in fact are frightened of big arms deals in the middle east, people who one way or another see that as a threatening context, some in israel, perhaps some in iran, will see it that way. the u.s. will see that as a solid i have indication to produce jobs and prosperity in the united states and that will have a positive effect. if it in fact involves constructive leverage involving

building a stronger relationship and helping that build toward a constructive solution to the problems across the middle east, that will be enormously important. the president will be challenged. because the middle east hasn't forgotten about the arab israeli conflict about the palestinians. it may be sub limb ated a little bit but they won't disappear and the president will have to deal with that in the next stop. he's taken on a series of three very important stops, many of them defined by religious questions. we all know that politics and religion, particularly in the united states are very difficult things to mix and how and in what way one handles one's self in regard to each of those, respect for the adherence of the religion at hand and while at the same time seeking to find ways, the deep problems, many which have deep relimg us overnes is a serious and remarkable challenge to undertake on your first trip

abro abroad. >> this is being billed as a reset in the relationship between the two countries and given our past history with saudi arabia, where do you stanton the trump administration's approach to this and how do you think the u.s. will benefit from it? >> as i've said over the last few minutes, i think it's important for the united states to have good relations with saudi arabia but good relations with the rest of the countries of the region and to the extent that one tends to distract from the other, it is an important question to maintain the balance because in the long run, u.s. interests are not served by heightened and further conflict in the middle east. whether it's with israel or iran or with or through outside powers as it is in syria, it's very important for us, i think, to be in the stabilizing mode and in the peace building mode. saudi arabia is a key to that. we should not sell that short merely because, in fact, at one

point or another one may see the saudi arabian relationship at this day and stage as the primary result of the trip. it has to be put into a broader middle eastern balance. this is a very challenging and demanding task. ambassador, i also want to ask you about a report in "the new york times" describing the exchange that took place between president trump and russian diplomats the day after fbi director comey was fired. he told the officials, i just fired the head of the fbi. he was crazy. that's taken off. you were also ambassador to russia. how unusual is this scenario? >> well, in private talks, presidents, national security advisers and secretaries of state have always wanted to create and curry leverage. leverage is important in a relationship with russia in particular.

so it's not, i think, out of the question that the president was more intent in selling leverage than he was worried about the potential for leaks and how embarrassing that would be in the context of the domestic issue that's unfolded. i think in that way, a president who is -- put it this way, inexperienced in the management of these multiple moving dynamic situations is bound to stub his toe from time to time. this is perhaps more than a toe stub. but it seemed to me that it fit more that context than any other context that he wanted. in fact, to have the russians and president putin know that he was considerate of the circumstances despite the fact that they were causing him tremendous domestic angst. ambassador, you're calling it leverage so to speak. "the new york times" is calling it a negotiating tactic. it seems this is the case here. is this an effective tactic for

a diplomatic meeting? >> if it succeeds, it's effective. if it blows up as it looks like this one is going to in one way or another, then obviously the leverage with the russians, if there was any, is not very strong. and that will disappear and the president will continue, i'm afraid, to have to pay a very strong domestic price for this. i'm afraid, because i'm deeply concerned about u.s. stability. the loss of our strength and indeed respect around the world and how much an event like this plays into that, which as i think unfortunately been a hallmark of the last 125 days. >> were you surprised that this would leak out of the white house? >> no. because i think that my deep experience in government has been that very few things don't leak, and this white house seems particularly prone to leaks, particularly those in one way or another seem to be damaging to the president.

>> ambassador thomas pickering, great to have you on. thanks for joining us. >> thank you, delighted to be with you. president trump's message to saudi arabia. he says the trip will be good for american jobs. but is this just a distraction from the questions about russia? we leave you with a look at the international convention center in riyadh. the high is expected to be about 105 degrees with 20% humidity. swings. sure we could travel, take it easy... but we've never been the type to just sit back... not when we've got so much more to give when you have the right financial advisor, life can be brilliant. ameriprise before fibromyalgia, i was a doer.

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breaking overnight. south korean military officials are confirming that north korea launched an unidentified missile. janice mackey frayer joins us from sool. janice, what are your sources saying about this missile launch? >> well, it has been suggested by.s. pacific command that this was a medium range missile. given what we know at this point

about the distance, it flew about 300 miles before landing in the sea of japan. south korea and u.s. officials are still analyzing the data. japan has condemned the launch already. the same site or area was used last month for a launch. that launch failed. if we're looking at the same type of missile, that was a solid fuel engine and it used a mobile launcher. that means that the whole system can be moved and set up within minutes and, therefore, launched with very little notice. experts have been taking note of the pace at which north korea has been testing its program. it suggests that they're really pushing towards this goal of having an intercontinental ballistic missile. the tests last weekend, according to most experts showed surprising advances in north korea's program. so it would suggest at this point that kim jong un is fmore

focused on technology and having tests to -- talks are an option at this point. the other launch, the missile went 400 miles. this one about 300 miles. what is the significance in that range difference? is it because of the weight of the missile or are they trying out something new? >> well, the regime has long been threatening that it wants to test a missile capable of reaching the coast of the united states. what was unique or what suggested a really advance in the program was last weekend because of the altitude that the missile was able to reach, some 1300 miles into the atmosphere before coming down, actually closer to russia than anywhere se. so that suggested that, if it was launched on a straight trajectory, that it could reach a greater distance than missiles that north korea launched before. this is why experts analyzing the data from last weekend's test suggest that the program is making these incremental

advances. perhaps surpassing even pyongyang's expectations, given the number of images and videos that the regime released at the launch last week. janis mackey frayer. thank you for that. now back to president trump's first overseas trip and first stop in saudi arabia. here's one of the lighter moments so far. take a look. >> >> always the right hand, right? >> always the right hand. >> that was president trump and first lady melania getting a lesson in teacup protocol from king solomon on the president's first overseas trip. steve clemons, edit editor-at-large an msnbc contribut

contributor. sometimes those mamts say a lot. what do you get from that interaction? >> they're getting very casual with the king. one thing interesting about this particular trip with king solomon compared to president obama, the king spending as much time as he can with president trump. spending time with him, drinking coffee. it's a high touch visit and president obama didn't enjoy that kind of relationship with the saudi royalty. >> the president has largely kept out of earshot of american reporters. but he did make quick comments. he made it a point to repeat the word jobs. is he trying to shift the focus from the investigations at home? >> one can think he's only trying to shift from the russian investigation. on an earnest front, i think that president trump has been focused and said he's been focused on bringing jobs back, promoting investment. it's the one consistent theme that he raises in nearly every

meeting with every foreign leader that he meets. certainly in the oil and energy infrastructure arena and the kind of scale of investment that they've been talking about from the saudis in yesterday's meetings, that sounds pretty consist at the present time that jobs is what he says. we've only heard 25 words from donald trump in the last day, which is also surprising. >> president trump also commented on the beautiful military equipment that the u.s. is selling to create jobs. secretary tillerson said the saudi arms dealer will help counterter rich and iran-related threats. is the u.s. picking sides to divide among the muslims here? >> it certainly feels like t i worry about that. that yesterday you had the iran-elect -- re-elect president rouha rouhani. a noted moderate. it was an important thing to note. we've been trying to mango owe i wouldn't say iran's rise but iran's course in such a way, particularly in its nuclear program, that you could move

from that to kind of a more stable and different relationship with saudi arabia and other countries in the region. but if -- the saudis felt frustrated with president obama in that process. if we go pack to connecting ourselves with the saudis only and then create this tension where it does feel like we're picking one side in a relationship with a contest of wer betweethe saud and the iranians throughout the region is dvi a lotf the proxy conflicts. we may be fueling one of the dimensions of the conflict in the middle east rather than really trying to defuse it. >> in contrast to the obama administration, the optics of this first day were quite interesting. we saw the president and some of his aides taking part in the saudi dance last night. have you ever seen the president looking so happy? >> only when he's adored. adored and celebrated. what you saw yesterday was fascinating to watch this. it was a kind of seduction of president trump by the saudis.

all of the pomp and circumstance, all of the adulation. we know that president si si of egypt said he was a leader among leaders. he overcame historic odds. these kinds of things played at president trump's vanity and he's loving every moment of it. >> he did chuckle at that one. the a.p. reported that there was more cooperation with this arms deal and possibly oil deals down in the future. do you see that as a possibility? >> i mean, i do right now. i think this administration is very well-set to do a lot on the arms front and the oil and energy front, the gas front, the fossil fuel arena. it's something the trump administration talked about. i think it -- these are two areas that president trump has said he's going to try to get jobs connected a he's got the ceo of boeing with him. we had jared kushner negotiating with lockheed martin to get a price down to cap off the saudi

arms purchases, one of the largest arms purchases from the united states in the world. we still haven't seen all the details. as we discussed yesterday, i have a little bit of a worry that a lot of this empowerment of the saudis, this selling of hardware, we need to be careful and watch what the saudis do with it. if they begin moving it into arenas where they're not used to fighting or a lot of misapplication of power in the yemeni case and many innocent yes, ma'am menis killed. there's a downside we're not discussing. we have to make sure some of the weapons systems don't fall into the hands of allies of the saudis in places like syria, which could be disconcerting for american troops there. >> steve clemons, good insight there. thanks for joining us this morning. selling billions of dollars of military equipment to saudi arabia. will fewer u.s. troops be needed in the region as a result? some answers up next. but first, "saturday night

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at the half hour, here's what we're watching. president trump, he's just wrapped up a meeting with a deputy prime minister of iman. a strategically important country that sits at the mouth of the persian gulf. alley vitale is with the president today. it's been a busy day for president trump already. what can you tell us about the highlights so far? >> reporter: right. so yesterday we did see the welcoming ceremony. a literal red carpet rolled out. they signed the joint strategic vision declaration. $110 billion in arms deals was contained in it and money in corporate investment, direct investment in saudi arabia and the president says it's a tremendous advancement and rex tillerson tells us yesterday that this is an advancement in jobs and has the president saying jobs, jobs jobs which is the mantra of the administration. something they're looking to as a victory to take home with them and say we're not only looking

out for american's place in the international community but with the american worker and how this will play economically for the american worker back at home. >> ali, you talk about victories here. we're hoping of the success of the president's speech later today. what can we expect out of that speech? >> well, this one is highly anticipated. a lot of us looking at it as a speech that's looking to unite the muslim community in the face of ex treechli treem itch. you can't about -- during his campaign, he was outspoken about radical islamic terror, he pushed for at that point a blanket ban of muslims coming into the united states until we can, quote, figure out what's going on. that translated once in office to a travel executive order that sought to ban immigration from 7, then down to 6 muslim countries. that still being upheld in court and not implemented now. in light of the past statements, we're looking at how this speech

will go off in saudi arabia on the second day of this trip. >> ali, this trip comes just after major news back home in the united states and has that affected the president's reception in saudi arabia at all? >> reporter: it certainly hasn't affected the reception. but i think it managed to creep in. we were briefed by secretary of state rex tillerson last night and he was asked about what he knew about this person of interest in the white house being investigated in connection with the russia probe. he had a pretty specific answer of i don't have any information on this person. distancing himself from what's going on there. it's notable that it was asked about at all showing that the domestic problems at home are definitely following here in saudi arabia and as he travels on this foreign trip. the saudi arabian reception hasn't been tainted by that and largely, they're looking at the successes here as opposed to the controversies back home. >> ali vitale, thank you so

much. new details about the $110 billion deal the president signed with saudi arabia. jack jacsoins us with more. this deal could get bigger, up to $350 billion over a ten-year period. the u.s. is selling the saudis tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems and radar and communication equipment and cyber security. point point-blank, are we preparing them for war? >> we've been preparing them for defense for a long time. we've been supplying them with all these kinds of things for over 30 years. we've been training their military establishment. i remember being in various courses in the military, the advanced course, command general staff college, war college and for the middle level and low-level courses, we've had years and years of saudi officers attending as exchange officers. we trained their air force.

i remember prince ban dar who was for more than 20 years, the saudi ambassador to the united states. he went to flight school in the united states. so we've been preparing them for defense for a long, long time. have been supplying them with lots of equipment and a lot of this equipment, air equipment, ammunition and particularly ships, are now very, very old and need to be replaced. and this isn't the only administration that's been working on that. every previou administration has been supplying the saudis with increasingly sophisticated military equipment. so this is just the latest in a series of supplies. >> colonel, secretary tillerson specifically referenced counter terrorism and threats related to iran. is the u.s. picking sides among divided muslims and how does a super pour throwing weight behind one side lead to peace in the region?

>> it's extremely difficult to pick sides since we've been an ally of the saudis for a long, long time. their biggest adversary is iran. there's something of a battle, has been for some time, a battle in the region for influence and dominance between saudi arabia on the one hand and iran on other. we have picked a side. the side we picked are the saudis and the side we're against is iran and we have been since 1979. we cast our lot with the saudis at least partially because of their relationship with the israelis and there's been a lot of trading of intelligence information among us in order to counter the expansion of iran. yes, we have picked sides and i don't think we're going to change, dara. colonel, the president said today he was discussing the sale of beautiful military equipment to create u.s. jobs. what do you make of that comment? >> well, i think that's plang

to the domestic audience here. he was talking about increasing the number of jobs and the breadth of jobs here in the united states during the campaign. it just so happens that this agreement, which by the way, has been in the works for a long, long time may in fact create more jobs. when he makes a comment like that, it's for the domestic american audience. as often happens with politicians when they're overseas, dara. >> colonel jack jacobs, great to have you here this sunday morning. appreciate your time. >> you bet. the travel ban president is about to give a speech on, what will he say and can he reset u.s. reels with the muslim world? it comes when your insurance company says they'll only pay three-quarters of what it takes to replace it. what are you supposed to do? drive three-quarters of a car? now if you had liberty mutual new car replacement™, you'd get your whole car back. i guess they don't want you driving around on three wheels.

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president donald trump meeting with saudi arabia, bahra bahrain, qatar. he also spoke with the arms deals and how it will bring jobs to the u.s.

israel, a short time ago voicing concern in particular about the u.s.'s $110 billion arms deal with saudi arabia. the senior israeli cabinet minister says it is crucial that israel maintain its military edge over its arab neighbors. for more on the president's trip let's bring in a jurournalist. good to have you here this morning, doctor. you live and practice medicine in saudi arabia. what's your take so far and how does it compare to the previous american presidents? >> i think it's being met with incredible celebration and high regard. not just in saudi arabia, but in the arab region as well. i traveled in the arab region in egypt, which is going to have a big influence in in meeting later on today. the reception is tremendous. they see president trump as an important ally against radical islam, against isis and a

supporter of good muslims. there is not any of the anti-muslim zen phobia attached to president trump in the middle east accordi to diplomats and military office and others i spoke to. how does the u.s./saudi arabia relationship change under president trump? >> i think it is changing. the hunger engagement with the united states was reaching a crescendo. don't forget, the saudi military operation in yemen was a direct outcome of president obama's overtures to iran. saudi arabia realized they were on their own and that initiated a really serious conflict. the influence of iran has been unchecked. not only in these nuclear agreements with the united states but in its ability to propagate hezbollah and its activities inside the arab region to threaten and imperil israel and to hold hostage

lebanon. so iran has to be reigned in and it cannot happen in the sunni world and you stites. >> the president has seemed to emphasize the business relationship with the saudis over the human rights concerns. do you think that's a mistake? >> no. because i think we're only aware of the meetings that happen in public. i have followed saudi arabia, i lived there for two years, traveled there over a decade and followed it almost 20. there are progressive advances in the rights of women and in the liberty of thepress. there are even female lawyerst the bar. sawed there is an enormous change afoot not just by u.s. pressure but by the late king abdullah who inspired much of the vision 30 that saudi arabia is working also towards. >> doctor, it's expected that in hois speech later today, president trump will try to reset relations with the muslim world. what do people want to hear from

him there? >> i think they want to hear what he's best at. frank and candid speech. that the united states is with the muslim world battling extremism. they don't realize how tough certain countries are on domestic jihadism. ohman, the sult -- egypt which monitors contents inside mosques for islamic ideology. what's going to be intriguing and very few people have said this is qatar. because they underwrite the muslim brotherhood. qatar is a direct and intense rival for global influence with saudi arabia. kind of a thorn inside arabia's side. qat qatar, perhaps is not going to fit or enjoy in messaging as much as the rest of the muslim world. >> if the president is expected to talk about muslim unity, what

does he need to do to blend that so there can be unity in the arab nations? >> i think first of all, collaboration against both the common enemy in which isis has embodied but there's a spectrum of the last 30 years, taliban, al qaeda and other countries in pakistan. muslims around the world in the arab region and beyond. they recognize that this is the viper that has been birthed in our bosom. as a muslim myself, i hold us responsible for allowing this toxic ideology to have nurtured, but it's coming home to roost. it's unifying muslims already, i think. i think they had lost their confidence in the last two presidential administrations of american's interest, engagement commitment from morocco through to pakistan. we think of the muslim world as the arab world. that's 330 million of them.

billions live beyond the borders and they're also watching what transpires. doctor, your book focuses on women living in saudi arabia. what is it like to be a female in saudi arabia and how do you possibly see that changing as relations get better with the united states? >> when i lived there right before 9/11, the religious police were extremely powerful. it was very intimidating. i was a single man, i was compelle to -- never by my employer. the national guard hospital. so i was unveiled in my work as a physician. there was intimidation. i was not able to drive my car. my car remained here in new york. and for someone who is a muslim who has grown up in the west, my mother is a physician, my grandmother was educated. this was an astonishing shock. so i think the women of saudi arabia are some of the most pugnacious, some of the most determined, most lyle educated.

there are more university graduates in saudi arabia than male. there is a tremendous potential. when i wrote my book, saudi women held more than 40% of the saudi arabia private wealth. this is a great asset which the kingdom is coming to realize can be tapped. they built the biggest female university, 40,000 female under graduates study in riyadh. we're going to seame many chang. i will say, these changes are not going to happen unless saudi women themselves seize it and i'm waiting for that moment. >> doctor, i know we touched on this before about the human rights issue with president trump. do you think there's anything he can say or do to possibly put pressure on the saudis to make the human rights issues and the issues for women better in saudi arabia? >> i think there is always means. i'm sure there's dialogs going on, just president trump but secretary of state rex tillerson has an incredible and complex relationship with the saudi and air ran region for that matter.

yes, by bringing his daughter, by bringing his wife, his daughter also an accomplished business woman, his wife highly accomplished in the private sector, all of these things speak to the role of elevating women. in fact, ivanka trump a few hours ago held a session with princess, one of the leading royal family members about advancing rights of women. so i think absolutely it's possible. perhaps, however, focusing more on the freedom of expression, we know there have been saudis bloggers imperilled and imprisoned. we know it's difficult. though saudis are finding an outlet in twitter, they are the highest users of twitter in the globe. so there are pressure outlets that are available, which just did not exist when i lived there. >> doctor, thank you so much for spending time with us this morning. >> my pleasure, dara. thank you. now to the regional rival,

iran where president rue wouhann in a landslide. what does his victory mean for the u.s.? >> we're joined from there. what was the reaction to the victory? >> reporter: well, it was ecstatic, dara. the people poured out into the streets of tehran last night celebrating, shoutsing that this is a victory for reform over repression. they were shouting about former opposition leader being released from prison and other political prisoners. relief that there was a sense of ecstasy in iran last night. but in iran, euphoria usually quickly turns into disillusionment. he has a lot to deliver on. he made huge campaign promises that he's going to loosen social restriction, he's going to make an even bigger outreach to the world, he's going to try and get rid of both nuclear and

non-nuclear-related sanction. this is a tall order. he's going to be facing hard liners and also facing a new administration in the united states that seems to have the bit between their teeth for iran. president trump is not -- he's labeled iran as the world's biggest sponsor for terrorism and he's in saudi arabia with iran's biggest rival, selling them $110 billion worth of arms. so there's going to be a very tough year -- tough four years for president rouhani. even though they're looking forward to a better future, he has a lot to deliver on and i think it's going to be a very tough four years for him. dara? >> you mentioned a campaign promise about the nuclear deals. what does that mean for the deal with the west? >> reporter: it's a very -- rouhani thought he had the

nuclear deal all wrapped up during president obama's time. he thought it was a done deal that this wasn' goi to be retracted on. when president trump came into power, it put that whole deal o sands. he's worried about the future of the deal. that's his signature move he made in iran. he doesn't want to ruffle too many feathers. he wants the deal to stay in place. there's not much he can do. if there's going to be renegotiation of the deal, they are going to change in any way, the supreme leader, the buck stops with him is not going to allow him to re-negotiate the deal and i don't think he would want to because it would make him look weak. there are charges by hard liners levied against him, he's a stooge of the west and not something he wants to be labeled as. he will try to keep the deal alive, but not at any cost

possible. i think we are going to see a game of chicken to see who backs out first. dara? >> ali, thank you for that report. honor over seas, but questions raised at home. which headline last week is most damaging to president trump? rex tillerson's role in the u.s./middle east relations. we'll ask about the dire warning about iran.

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preps with israel, literally rolling out the red carpet. they are making last minute changes to the welcoming ceremony at the airport. more than 10,000 police officers tasked with securing the president's visit. they will get an armored hotel suite hotel room, bomb roof, poison proof and bullet proof. they are bringing their own rocket proof window. this has been overshadowed by diplomatic slip ups. the official line from israel's government is relations between the two is stronger than ever. behind closed doors, there's concern and frustration. israel did provide some of the intelligence president trump shared with the russians. comments saying the western wall was in the west bank, not in israel. mr. trump is expected to be the first sitting president to visit

this part of israel. he backed out of the pledge to move the u.s. embassy from tel-aviv to jerusalem. they are pursuing a peace deal, a task that requires nuance, not something this president has been known for. he is prone to speaking tauf cuff. that's very much heightened the sense of anxiety in israel. he will be there 26 hours, but that is more than enough time for a misstated word to change the tone of the visit. >> you mentioned he will be there briefly. do you think president trump is feeling more comfortable -- we'll get to you in the next hour. that will do it for me. i'm dara brown. thomas roberts and the great expectations for the president's speech to arab leaders about fighting terror. are comments just water under the bridge? analysis at the top of the hour.

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breaking overnight, president trump preparing for the much anticipated speech, a short time from now, which he is expected to urge muslim unity in the fight against terrorism. how will it go over and will he leave anti-islamic rhetoric out of the script? the president attempting a reset with the leaders of egypt and qatar, a short time ago. >> very serious discussions right now going on and one of the things that we will discuss is the purchase of lots of beautiful military equipment because nobody makes it like the united states. >> hi, everybody. good sunday morning to you. i'm thomas roberts in new york at msnbc world headquarters. 7:00 on the east, 4:00 out west. we have a lot of breaking news to go over for the second straight sunday. north korea