JIM SCIUTTO (HOST): The president clearly putting the onus on Muslim-majority countries to fight extremism. This, of course, is happening as the administration pursues a travel ban that courts have determined are targeting Muslim-majority countries. That's been one of the main obstacles to getting it through in effect. How does that message conflict? Because, you speak to many people in the region, they feel targeted by this travel ban. And you have the president now calling on them, giving a call to action. How do you rectify those two?

ELLIOT ABRAMS: Well, I think it's going to work reasonably well, frankly. I think that what the president here is saying, “we all need to act more to protect ourselves against terrorism. It is a phenomenon that's destroying the region, and I'm going to protect my country from it.” But the idea that you can call him, you know, bigoted against Islam, I think, takes a big hit today. His first foreign trip he goes to Riyadh. You have all of these visuals of him meeting with Muslim leaders, not only from that region but from around the world, so I think he comes out looking better, not only as presidential, but as reaching out to Muslim leaders from around the world. I think he has helped himself a lot in pushing back against the idea that the origin of his position is some kind of prejudice. 

Previously:

ABC World News Tonight Explores The Anti-Muslim Extremism Of Trump's White Nationalist Advisor Stephen Bannon

Cable News Hosts Anti-Muslim Extremists To Defend Trump’s Muslim Ban

White Nationalists Praise Trump’s Muslim Ban: “God Bless You,” “Feel Like Crying” With Joy