When President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran deal in his first term, The New York Times predicted catastrophe. Its editorial board wrote: “When it comes to the danger of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, there is no sign Iran or any of the other major powers in the existing and so far successful pact will simply fall in line with Mr. Trump’s notional new plan. More likely, his decision, announced on Tuesday, will allow Iran to resume a robust nuclear program, sour relations with close European allies, erode America’s credibility, lay conditions for a possible wider war in the Middle East …”
But now, seven years later, Trump in his second term successfully negotiated with Hamas for the release of the remaining living hostages and the bodies of others kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the taking of 250 others. The ceasefire, hopefully just the first step for a broader, more lasting peace, was agreed to by the leaders of Qatar and Turkey, where leaders of Hamas reportedly live. The leader of Egypt signed and the Gulf states, as well as Iran, supported the deal. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin praised it.
As for former President Joe Biden, he praised Trump by name, while claiming Trump’s deal stood on the foundation of a plan constructed during his administration: “The road to this deal was not easy. My Administration worked relentlessly to bring hostages home, get relief to Palestinian civilians, and end the war. … Now, with the backing of the United States and the world, the Middle East is on a path to peace that I hope endures and a future for Israelis and Palestinians alike with equal measures of peace, dignity, and safety.”
This is a statement from Biden, whose catastrophic pullout from Afghanistan emboldened America’s enemies including Iran, the world’s leading exporter of terror and benefactor of Hamas. Trump said on many occasions that had he been in office, Oct. 7 “would never have happened.” There is good reason to agree with his assessment.
How did Trump pull this off? After all, Biden, his successor, racked up decades of foreign-policy experience. He spent 36 years in the Senate, with 12 years as the chair or ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
So, what happened? Simple. After Oct. 7, Trump battered Israel’s enemies — Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iran. Gaza has been leveled. Iran’s nuclear program was bombed, with the sanctions Trump imposed on Iran causing high unemployment and 40% annual inflation. This is what forced Hamas to the table.
Finally, to Trump’s many detractors, look at it this way: Years ago, I watched two professional golfers being interviewed on the Golf Channel. The interviewer asked, “What makes a good golfer?”
One golfer said, “I look at how he grips the club; where he places his feet, how he positions his shoulders; if he’s right-handed, whether he keeps his left arm locked as he swings; if he keeps his eyes squarely on the ball as he swings so he doesn’t hook or shank; the movement of his hips; whether he swings smoothly without a hitch …” He proceeded to give several more precise mechanical details.
The other golfer said, “I look where the ball lands.”
When it comes to Trump, detractors look at his swing: the insults, the bragging, the swagger, the ego, his tweets, his cockiness, his demeanor, his flippancy and his various opinions on all manner of things that really don’t much matter. As the Trump-supporting Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) puts it, Trump does not have an “unexpressed thought.”
Supporters look where the ball lands: the economy; borders; eliminating DEI; SCOTUS judges; pro-life; foreign policy; school choice; combating urban crime; focused deportations; opposing biological men competing against biological women in sports, etc. And it looks like the man is having fun. It’s infectious. In the final analysis, isn’t this all that really matters? The rest of it is, pardon the expression, white noise.
Whom do you think the enemies of the United States fear more — a president who calls “climate change” the “ultimate threat to humanity,” or a president who renames the Department of Defense the Department of War?
Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an “Elderado,” click here. Follow Larry on X @larryelder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage.
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Well, let’s look at all the predictions that have made against Pres. Trump and his decisions. Scrolling down the list — Everything that the Democrats have stated to happen because of Pres. Trump’s decisions — still haven’t happened. Yet, let’s look at all the promises that the Demos have stated that would help the people — still waiting.
Who do you trust to get the job done properly?
It’s about the policies, not the personality, about the message, not the messenger! I agree with the description of Trumps personality, but anyone who was a real estate developer in New York city and had to deal with the unions and mafia, had to be toughed skinned. Actions speak louder than words.
Great article, Larry. Love the golf analogy. Yes, President Trump IS having fun. I think it’s part of the reason why he is working so hard–to get this country straightened out as much as a president can in 4 years…AND that his accomplishments fuel him to do more. This is why he was so successful with his real estate business in NYC which made him a billionaire. He LOVES negotiating. He LOVES sparing with his detractors. He’s NEVER intimidated by his enemies. He’s exactly the type of president that we need right now.
With all this said, I only have one response: Thank you Mr. President! I pray for your safety, your energy level, and the amount of things you can accomplish with the time you’ve been given.
They hate him even more! Now they’re trying to claim that Joe Biden did all that. Donald Trump does more by mistake than Joe Biden never did on purpose.
I don’t think they hate the President but his persona, his ideas, stamina and resolve. He is an anomaly among them, something unknown to them, something to be feared, he is not complacent obedient little dwarf going with the flow, that scares the very breath from them, had he been one of many, they’d have no problem with him,
“Promise made-Promises kept” That says it all. Now that Gaza [aka Palestine (which has NEVER existed)] is free from Israeli domination, where is the relied from the Hams-sympathizers?
AMEN, HiGH PRAISE !
Fake news
Love Larry Elder’s perceptive assessment of all things and his turn of phrase.
Sorry, but that the “trumped-up” convictions by Democrats don’t count. That said, Trump is an insane disaster who loves attacking countries and killing people unjustly. We need a whole new set of valid accusations against him, this time ones that will stick.
Everything is great! Until the next firefight. Man, I hope it doesn’t happen…
Sorry, Mr. Trump, I still don’t like you.
Your ceasefire is fake. It was staged because you and Israel are both hemorrhaging supporters in the U.S. Before long, Israel will be back to killing Palestinians, as they always have.
You obtained this cease-fire by leveling Gaza, killing and injuring massive number of civilians. You are bragging about this?
You are pushing Russia towards nuclear war. Mr. Trump – are you sane? You obviously are not sane. It’s bad enough that the U.S. and G.B. pushed Ukrainians to fight a proxy war for the U.S. against Russia. Now that Ukraine is largely destroyed, because of us, you want to abscond with their mineral wealth to pay us back for the money we spent pushing them into war. We should be paying damages to both Ukraine and Russia.
You have declared economic war on the world, expecting the rest of the world to bail us out and prevent our financial collapse, which is coming rapidly. We are rapidly losing that war. You bragged that all the foreign leaders would come here “to kiss my ass”. They did not do that. They stood up to you. Many have joined BRICS, and many more will. You are the best thing that ever happened to BRICS.
You are friendly with Columbia, which is where the illegal drugs are largely coming from, but you are planning a war with Venezuela, lying that they are exporting drugs to the U.S. You want to steal their oil. Stealing other nation’s oil beats wisely managing our own economy. Besides, somehow we have to pay for our massive defense industry, building weapons to use against imaginary enemies.
What will be your next trick to avoid the impending economic collapse of the U.S.? I can hardly wait.
Some people need to wake up and realize that Joe Biden has been dead far too many years to make all the statements attributed to him. Larry Elder needs to find out that fact and get quiet!