Jay Weber Show transcript 5-16-25
I haven’t really had time to talk about it-
But- given the fact that it’s now a few days later-and it still hasn’t gotten virtually any media coverage- I guess I will.
I’m talking about this-very consequential- speech president trump gave on Tuesday in the Middle East-and to the global community.
This was Donald Trump, as a US president, basically laying out a new ‘doctrine’ when it came to how the United States should deal with foreign countries- and especially countries in that region- which has been a hot-spot of western hate now-for many generations.
For those who heard it- the speech was immediately hailed as one of the most important policy speeches a western leader has delivered-in many, many years-and in this most recent era.
And yet- when it came to news coverage-crickets chirped.
Mark Halperin, as a veteran news guy and dc insider, admitted he was blown away that this got zero news coverage by the American media. He asked Sean Spicer about it on his podcast.
Spicer is correct. I stated it yesterday: there has been a notable...quote...lack of news...this week...because the normal suspects who cover trump relentlessly...don’t want to report on anything positive.
And so, as Trump was simply- killing’ it- on this trip-
And he was- they were refusing to write about it. Trump has secured at least two trillion dollars more in new US investments-which will create hundreds of thousands of new, good paying, manufacturing jobs. He had a great meeting with the Crown Prince in Saudi Arabia and urged the Saudis to join the Abraham accords.
He drew a standing ovation by announcing that he’s lifting American sanctions on Syria...and then met with
The Syrian president for the first time an American president has done so in 25 years....in a strategy to separate their new government from China and Iran. Great move.
He made it clear that Iran could never have a nuclear weapon...and told them...make your choice: war or peace.
And he gave this very important speech that had the rest of the world’s leaders standing up and taking notice.
In it, he basically changed 30 years of US doctrine on the middle east-and the effort to expand and defend democracy around the globe.
It’s the Trump doctrine- and so-let’s see if it works. This is Trump-the visionary business guy- simply thinking in terms that no other modern-day president his.
And as i said yesterday: I appreciate the fact that trump is approaching this ‘forever problem’ a different way.
He sees the possibility of a more peaceful Middle East through economic development and shared business agreements....and not by forcing or sweet talking those countries into being more ‘western’ or more ‘democratic.’
And he’s got at least a ‘little’ track record, here: his Abraham accords have worked out brilliantly for the five or six countries who have agreed to them and entered into economic and trade agreements with Israel.
The whole idea is:if we have shared economic interests-and the success and prosperity of both countries depends on us working together on business interests...then our leaders are going to be less likely to want to bomb and kill each other...and our citizenry will also be less likely to put tribal or historical hatreds ahead of their own comfort and success.
And yes- this trip has been a game-changer.
And yes- trump is being friendly with people who don’t seem to deserve his friendship and trust- but I’d also point out that he’s not bowing to the mullahs or our long-time enemies over there.
If he and his team can draw the leaders of Qatar and Syria and Saudi Arabia ‘closer’ to us in the west.... he and future u-s presidents will have more power and influence over them, eventually. Which is a good thing.
I’m seeing no ‘down sides’ to this, and I’m seeing a presidential team that’s flying home with a series of massive and very positive wins to report to the American people.
And he-did- reject this vision of expanding democracy through nation-building-which was a shock to some here in America-and nearly everyone in the middle east.
Nc. They were built by the smart people and dreamers who are native to those countries...was his point.
That’s not a bad way to summarize it-but if these pundits don’t think that president trump isn’t still going to look out for American and western interests there- they are misreading him.
Trump is calling for more tolerance...and less intervention...from our end...but he’s not talking about abandoning our morals, principals, or interests, as they relate over there.
For heaven’s sake: he issued a strong ultimatum to Iran’s mullahs more than once: you will not be allowed to have nukes. We in the west will not tolerate being under that threat.
Well-that’s Trump -as US President- ‘telling them what they can and cannot do’, isn’t it?
So, he’s still going to look out for our interests there, and western and Israeli interests, overall. He’s just trying a different approach to peace here. A reset on 50 years of failed attempts and deepening grudges.
And that’s a good thing. Not a bad thing.
photo credit: Getty Images
audio version of the segment here > Trump's diplomatic Middle East trip was a YUGE success