Abu Dhabi – A recent trip to the Middle East has resulted in a warm reception, a diplomatic breakthrough, and a staggering business deal estimated at $2 trillion.
“It’s remarkable what a president can accomplish when he’s sharp,” a senior Democratic aide remarked on Thursday.
“I think this trip really highlights how much we need leaders full of that kind of energy,” a Biden White House aide noted.
Trump recently embarked on a journey that included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Coincidentally, his aides managed to facilitate the release of Edan Alexander, the last American hostage taken by Hamas back on October 7, 2023.
During his visit to Riyadh, Trump announced an end to long-standing U.S. economic sanctions on Syria and even had a meeting with interim leader Ahmed Al-Shara, a former al-Qaeda member who claims to now value religious diversity.
Trump mentioned that Al-Shara has agreed to work towards establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, urging Saudi Arabia to recognize the Jewish state and engage in the Abraham Accords.
He also claimed his trip had “just secured $4 trillion,” with the White House stating there were “more than $2 trillion” in new agreements and contracts in the pipeline.
The government has highlighted a $600 billion deal with Saudi Arabia, along with $243.5 billion from both Qatar and the UAE.
“Young Joe Biden could have done that.”
A former aide to Biden suggested that the current president might not have lifted sanctions on Syria or mediated the ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthis earlier this month without involving Israel, but they wonder what has changed.
“I think the ceasefire deal with the Houthis would have been something a younger Joe Biden, who was chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, could have done,” stated a former official who worked closely with Biden. “I’m not so sure that today’s President Biden has the stamina or negotiation skills for that kind of engagement.”
That source added that Trump appears to command respect in the Middle East.
“When he landed, there were all those camels and even a red Tesla in the mix. It’s clear they respect him, and how much of that is due to optics, well, that’s up for debate,” they noted.
One former Biden aide acknowledged that, if he were younger, perhaps sanctions on Syria could have been lifted, along with securing a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“It’s a tough balancing act, not being intimidating while also managing the potential fallout from such powerful negotiations,” reflected a former Biden-Iran negotiator.
Additionally, former Biden aides have been vocal in expressing skepticism about claims that Trump’s foreign policy efforts are superior.
“Trump creates a lot of disruption, but it hasn’t necessarily translated into better outcomes,” one former aide argued. “He made moves like compromising Ukraine to end the Russian invasion, while Russia continues aggressive actions, and Ukraine is in a weaker position than before.”
Another aide added that quick action is good, but it’s not always the best path forward.
