President Trump officially delayed moving the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Thursday morning, arguing the decision does not diminish the administration's support for the Jewish state.
"While President Donald J. Trump signed the waiver under the Jerusalem Embassy Act and delayed moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, no one should consider this step to be in any way a retreat from the President's strong support for Israel and for the United States-Israel alliance," the White House released in a statement. "President Trump made this decision to maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, fulfilling his solemn obligation to defend America's national security interests. But, as he has repeatedly stated his intention to move the embassy, the question is not if that move happens, but only when."
The decision comes a week after the President visited Israel on his first foreign trip. He is the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Western Wall.
On the campaign trail, candidate Trump made moving the embassy a top priority.