Why Trump is succeeding in the Middle East where Biden and Obama failed
President Donald Trump signs the agreement at a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war.REUTERS
Why the Obama and Biden Administrations Failed Where President Trump Is Succeeding in the Middle East
The short answer to why both the Biden and Obama administrations failed to achieve peace in the Middle East is simple: their actions ran counter to President Donald Trump’s current strategy — a strategy that has now led to a cease-fire and renewed hope for regional stability.
1. The Iran Problem
Under both Obama and Biden, Iran was awash in cash, racing toward a nuclear weapon, and fueling Israel’s “ring of fire” enemies — Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
Rather than cutting off this threat, both Democratic administrations allowed Iran to profit from oil sales and downplayed its nuclear ambitions. They spoke of merely delaying Tehran’s nuclear program rather than stopping it altogether, while treating its terrorist proxies as unstoppable forces.
In doing so, the U.S. appeased rather than deterred the region’s main disruptors of peace.
2. Pressure on Israel
Both Barack Obama and Joe Biden placed consistent pressure on Israel — and especially on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — to make concessions, without offering any realistic plan for Israel’s survival under constant threat from Iran and its terrorist network.
When the wider Middle East saw Washington siding with Tehran through appeasement, it concluded that aligning with an indecisive United States was too dangerous.
3. Alienating Allies
Obama and Biden strained relations with critical regional allies. Biden labeled Saudi Arabia a “pariah state” — until he needed its oil before the 2022 midterms — and both presidents sought to isolate Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Obama’s administration even leaked personal insults toward Netanyahu, including the infamous “chicken s–t” remark.
In a region where memory runs long, those insults carried weight. Obama never conceived the Abraham Accords, and Biden’s attempts to revive them after neglecting them were viewed as weak and opportunistic.
In contrast, President Trump’s respectful engagement with Gulf leaders, Sisi, and Netanyahu deepened U.S. influence and fostered cooperation.
4. Reluctance to Use Force
Both the Obama and Biden administrations hesitated to act decisively against terrorism. Neither would have ordered the strikes that eliminated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, or crushed the remnants of ISIS and Russia’s Wagner forces.
Their reluctance made allies cautious, fearing they would be left defenseless.
5. Global Appeasement and Decline
The Democratic approach projected weakness worldwide — from Libya in 2011 to Crimea in 2014, to the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021. Biden’s foreign policy missteps, from the Anchorage confrontation with China to the 2023 Chinese balloon incident, convinced much of the Middle East that America was in managed decline.
6. Domestic Constraints
Both Obama and Biden were hamstrung by a domestic political base increasingly sympathetic to anti-Israel causes. President Trump faced no such restraint. He acted decisively — supporting Israel’s right to defend itself while confronting Iran’s aggression head-on.
7. Diplomacy Through Prosperity
Democratic administrations relied on career diplomats and bureaucratic “diplomatese.” Trump instead treated peace as an opportunity for prosperity. He built relationships on mutual benefit, often through businessmen like Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff — a style that resonated deeply with both Arab and Israeli leaders.
8. Empty Threats vs. Real Consequences
Obama’s “red line” in Syria and Biden’s vague warnings to Russia (“don’t”) became global punchlines.
President Trump’s threats, by contrast, were credible — and enemies knew it.
9. Handling Qatar
Previous administrations appeased Qatar despite its double-dealing. Trump used both pressure and incentives to bring Doha in line. After Israel’s retaliation, a shaken Qatar turned to Trump for support — ready to cooperate.
10. Competence and Results
Obama and Biden were surrounded by officials who shared and amplified their indecisive worldview — Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Susan Rice, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, and Lloyd Austin among them.
President Trump, on the other hand, built a team of bold, results-oriented figures — including Senator Marco Rubio, Generals Erik Kurilla and Dan Caine, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner — who helped shape and implement a winning strategy.
Conclusion
While the Obama and Biden administrations fostered hesitation, appeasement, and confusion in the Middle East, President Trump projected strength, clarity, and mutual respect. The results speak for themselves: allies are cooperating, adversaries are deterred, and peace — once thought impossible — is once again within reach.
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