On September 17, 2001—just six days after the attacks—Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. and delivered a speech often referred to by the title "Islam is Peace."
In his remarks, he stated:
"The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That’s not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don’t represent peace. They represent evil and war."
Context and Frequency
Bush made similar points throughout his presidency to discourage bias and hate crimes against Muslim Americans. He frequently used variations of this sentiment in other addresses:
Joint Session of Congress (Sept 20, 2001): He stated that the "terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself."
United Nations General Assembly (Nov 10, 2001): He emphasized that "the killers can't hide behind a great religion."
Iftaar Dinners: During annual White House dinners breaking the Ramadan fast, he repeatedly referred to Islam as a religion that "teaches the value and the importance of charity, mercy, and peace."
While the exact phrase "Religion of Peace" is often attributed to him as a formal title, his literal words at the Islamic Center—"Islam is peace"—became the defining quote of his administration's rhetorical stance on the matter.
