During his first election I supported Donald Trump not because I liked him, but because, compared to Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, the world felt safer under his leadership. While the media obsessed over his tweets, I focused on results.
Before his potential re-election I set foreign policy benchmarks to judge whether a second Trump term would make the world safer: a ceasefire in Palestine, an end to the Ukraine war, and a nuclear deal with Iran in exchange for lifting US sanctions.
So far, we have a ceasefire in Palestine and Ukraine is edging closer to one. While Europe clings to its pro-Ukraine stance, Trump was right: this war should never have started. Russia had valid security concerns when Zelensky pursued Nato membership. Imagine if Mexico joined a Russian-led military alliance and stationed troops along the US border. Washington would lose its mind. So why is it so hard to understand why Russia reacted? Unlike the standard “Ukraine good, Russia bad” narrative, Trump’s stance makes sense.
The next big question is Iran. Will Trump strike a deal? He should. Getting Iran to commit to not pursuing nuclear weapons in exchange for lifting sanctions would ease Middle East tensions and shut down the neocon dream of endless war. And let’s be honest if anyone can turn a nuclear negotiation into a real estate deal, it’s Trump. I can already hear him declaring “no Iran nukes, great trade deal, the best trade deal of the century. No one’s ever seen a trade deal like this.”
Then there’s Israel. Many assume Trump is fully on Netanyahu’s side, but he’s put him in a no-win situation. If Netanyahu avoids another Gaza attack, his far-right base will turn on him. If he attacks without securing all hostages, mass protests could push Israel towards internal collapse. Meanwhile, Israel’s enemies aren’t just Hamas or Hezbollah anymore, global opposition is mounting. Even Syria’s instability could lead to a future government more hostile to Israel than Assad’s.
Domestically, I don’t agree with all of Trump’s policies. His statements can be reckless, even racist, and his ego is exhausting. Half the time, he sounds like he’s improvising. But on foreign policy, I’m seeing his logic again.
Economically, Trump has every right to impose tariffs as he sees fit, but he must tread carefully to avoid making unnecessary political enemies. Those affected should recognise this as a negotiation tactic and not react impulsively. The EU often has grandiose delusions, but the reality is they need Trump more than he needs them.
My advice? Ignore Trump’s words and judge him by his actions. His rhetoric is like a rollercoaster: wild, loud, and sometimes nauseating, but his foreign policy decisions may lead to greater stability and the world might just be safer with him in charge than with that Biden and his warmonger Washington friends.
The writer is a former Cambridge School Principal and an Interview Skills Advisor
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