Staff Reports
In a spectacular demonstration of the Trump Effect, the international stage is lighting up just before Joe Biden’s departure from the White House. While Biden was busy giving a tepid announcement of a new ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the real credit for the breakthrough seems to be firmly perched on Donald Trump’s shoulders. As it turns out, the locals in the Middle East would rather side with the combative approach of the former president than stick around for the established diplomatic fare that Biden has offered with a side of uncertainty.
Biden’s announcement of the ceasefire was marred by one glaring omission—his attempt to take credit for a deal that had long been stalled until Trump and his team swooped in like a global SWAT team of diplomacy. Qatar’s Minister of State revealed that it was Trump’s proactive efforts, including dispatching his envoy Steve Witkoff, which catalyzed movement on a deal that had been sitting in limbo while Biden’s administration struggled to get things off the ground. The reality was crystal clear: where Biden faltered, Trump thrived, and even his incoming administration proved pivotal in resolving a situation that left Biden scratching his head.
Trump Factor Strikes Again: President-elect and his envoy impact Mideast before inauguration https://t.co/XRvFIn8YTi
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) January 16, 2025
By coordinating with Biden’s team and issuing strong reminders that he’d soon be back in the Oval Office, Trump’s influence was felt almost immediately. The Qataris noted that Trump’s will to see a quick resolution effectively supported their negotiations. Outgoing President Biden might have intended to claim the glory, but his team lacked the decisiveness that Trump’s administration casually embodied. The transition period became a potent example of how leadership changes can shift power dynamics on the global stage, leaving to wonder how long Biden would have remained in the dark without Trump’s timely intervention.
When the dust settled, it became apparent that this deal—one which Biden reluctantly presided over—could have originated in his administration, yet it required Trump’s clarity and strength to become a tangible achievement. The deal encompasses a ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the potential release of hostages—a host of progress that was indeed the fruit of Trump’s influence. It turns out that American adversaries are more receptive to negotiations when they see the looming figure of a strong leader, which Trump embodies far better than the atmosphere of uncertainty brought forth in Biden’s tenure.
Republican representatives quickly jumped on this development, with one Wisconsin congressman linking the situation to how the previous administration handled foreign policy with a peace-through-strength mentality. Rather than coddling enemies or tiptoeing around sensitivities, Trump’s direct approach has again proven its worth, emphasizing that weakness ultimately leads to chaos on the world stage. If anyone has learned anything from this transitional period, it’s that the willingness of adversaries like Hamas to negotiate immediately improved under the potential for stronger leadership, leaving the outgoing president scrambling to take credit for work that had little to do with his administration.
As this saga unfolds, it’s clear that the global rapport facing Trump’s return to office stands in stark contrast to Biden’s fumbling attempts at leading from behind. The freeze on negotiations thawed under the incoming president’s forecast of determination and clarity—an approach that reminds many of Ronald Reagan’s forceful tactics during a far stickier Iran hostage crisis. Ultimately, while Biden may have attempted to draw a line to his administration’s efforts, the reality is rooted in the unmistakable Trump factor, setting the stage for a diplomatic revival before the inauguration even hits.
