After a decisive electoral victory, President Donald Trump will return to the White House, inheriting a much more chaotic situation in the Near East than he left behind in 2021. Since departing the presidency, Hamas began a war with its brutal massacre against Israel, Iran expanded its campaign of terrorism, and antisemitism has become shockingly common, most prominently in our universities. Here are 5 ways that President Trump can stand with Christians and Jews, both in the Near East and here at home.
Give Israel the Aid it Needs to End the War
The war in Israel, prompted by Hamas’ massacre on October 7th, 2023, is still underway. Hamas continues to hold hostages in Gaza, including American citizens. The new White House must demand that Hamas release the hostages while ensuring that Israel has the necessary backing and firepower to finish the job.
Since 10/7, the Biden Administration has given Israel mixed signals. For example, though the US placed a THAAD missile defense system in Israel, it did so shortly after it was revealed that Biden had threatened to curb weapons and munitions shipments if Israel didn’t change tactics in confronting Hamas. Not only have these shenanigans strained the US-Israel relationship, they’ve also prolonged the war.
This must end. President Trump should begin by telling Israel that it has the full backing of the American government in seeking the destruction of Hamas and Hezbollah. It should be swift in its munitions deliveries and ensure that Israel has a collaborative relationship with American intelligence. President Trump should also return to the “maximum pressure” sanctions policy toward Iran while also ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear bomb, even if it requires striking Iran directly. Israel deserves to live in peace; President Trump can be a part of that.
Create a Domestic Antisemitism Envoy
Since 10/7, there has been an explosion of antisemitism in the United States. Though the Jewish People have been courageous during this painful time, they deserve to practice and live their faith free from the horrific antisemitism that has been allowed to foment in the United States.
One option that President Trump might consider is the creation of a domestic envoy to combat antisemitism. The current Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism is attached to the State Department, which gives the Special Envoy a foreign policy orientation. And while that office must continue, a new office, perhaps attached to the Department of Justice, should be created to ensure that there is someone monitoring domestic antisemitism who can make full use of the DoJ to combat antisemitism here at home.
By placing it within the Department of Justice, this domestic envoy could work closely with federal, state, and local authorities to prosecute antisemitic violence and address antisemitism in public institutions. Such an office would ensure that combating antisemitism remains a priority within U.S. borders, fostering a safer environment for Jewish communities nationwide.
Hold Universities Accountable
President Trump must hold American universities accountable for the surge of antisemitism on campus and for allowing pro-Hamas groups to terrorize Jewish students. A recent report from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce showed that many universities did nothing to protect Jewish students, all while ducking any moral responsibility for their actions.
President Trump must make it clear that institutions of higher learning that do not protect students from hate will have their tax-exempt status revoked. He must also convey that those students and professors who are in the United States on visas will be deported by the Department of Homeland Security if they support and advocate for terrorism.
By enforcing these measures, President Trump would send a strong message that antisemitism and the promotion of terror have no place on American soil, especially within its educational institutions.
Normalize Relations with Saudi Arabia
When President Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, he ushered in a new era for the Near East. Instead of a region fraught with strife and conflict, the monumental peace deal signaled a new future for the United States, Israel and its Arab neighbors. The next step in the peace process ought to be the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia holds significant influence in the Arab and Muslim worlds, and so formalizing ties with Israel would further stabilize the region and foster economic and security collaboration. Normalization could also shift regional dynamics, creating a united front against shared threats like Iran and China, while enhancing technological and economic development across the Middle East. Such an alliance would build on the success of the Abraham Accords, bringing more Arab nations into a framework of cooperation with Israel and the U.S., and promoting lasting peace through shared interests and mutual respect.
The road to normalization will not be easy, as the Crown Prince has, in the past, had some difficult demands on Israel in order to enable relations. But if there is anything that the past year has shown, it is that the Near East must put aside some of its differences in order to curtail Iran’s influence. President Trump should, from day one, begin fostering this monumental peace deal.
Broker Better Relations Between Israel and Lebanon
Since October 8th of last year, Hezbollah has been firing upon innocent Israeli civilians as part of Iran’s multi-front proxy war against Israel. Only recently, however, have the Israelis taken the fight to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has deftly executed such operations as exploding the pagers and other electronic devices of Hezbollah operatives as well as the targeted killings of Hezbollah’s entire leadership, not to mention the decimation of Hezbollah’s command and control centers, weapons depots, and manufacturing centers.
Lebanon now has an opportunity to move beyond its long association with Hezbollah towards a peaceful and prosperous future. President Trump and his Middle East team, which has a proven track record of creating peace in the region, must seize this opportunity to pull Lebanon out of Iran’s orbit by bringing it into alignment with Israel and the West. Beirut was once the Paris of the Middle East; President Trump should see to its returns to glory.
Moreover, the Christian community in Lebanon, which has for decades been caught in the crosshairs of civil war and terror, is perhaps breathing the greatest sigh of relief. Lebanese Christians know that normalization with Israel and the United States provides them the greatest protection for their rights and communities. They understand that building ties with stable allies can help shield them from regional volatility, offering a counterbalance to hostile forces that have long threatened their security and cultural heritage
America needs a leader who will stand unapologetically with our allies, confront the forces of chaos, and restore order to a world on fire. President Trump must seize this moment to lead with strength, resolve and vision—because freedom and goodness depend on it.