President Donald Trump’s whirlwind Middle East trip has drawn reluctant admiration from Biden-era officials.“He just does it,” a current Biden official told Axios, noting Trump’s freedom from bureaucratic hurdles.
Trump’s team negotiated the release of American hostage Edan Alexander from Hamas and initiated moves to lift sanctions on Syria — a decision some Democrats now support, albeit begrudgingly.
Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes criticized Biden’s caution. “Sometimes you just have to try something different,” he said. Trump’s strong influence over Republicans and his direct line to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed him to bypass roadblocks that stymied past administrations.
President Trump at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) May 15, 2025
They shut down the Mosque for his special visit — the first time it has ever been closed for anyone in history. Historic moment! pic.twitter.com/BS09jHDPCh
Rob Malley, Obama’s former Iran envoy, called Trump’s actions both “terrifying” and “awe-inspiring.” As Trump signals progress toward a new Iran nuclear deal, critics and supporters alike agree: he is rewriting the rules of American foreign policy in real time.
