Senate Republicans wrote to President Donald Trump last week urging him to quickly appoint an ambassador for international religious freedom. 

Former envoys say they hope Trump will heed that advice — for his own sake.

Two past advisers to US presidents told Al-Monitor that, since taking office, Trump has needlessly antagonized Muslims throughout the Middle East and beyond with his policies and rhetoric. While they offered varying opinions about the president's temporary ban on refugees and visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries, the former ambassadors agreed that Trump urgently needs an adviser on religious matters to help him shape his message.

"He needs someone immediately to culturally translate, with sensitivity, what religion means to cultures," said Suzan Johnson Cook, a Baptist pastor who served as President Barack Obama's ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom from April 2011 to October 2013. "This is an ideological war. It's not just about sending troops and taking people out. There are extremists in every religion, and to pinpoint one above the others is not fair. It's critical to have a seasoned faith veteran, bridge-builder in that role."