AI generated this summary from the Hebrew recording. No human has checked it, and it may contain errors. The recording is the authoritative source.
The episode features Dr. Mor Shapiro, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic at Bar-Ilan University and a researcher at the MEMRI Middle East Media Research Institute. Shapiro analyzes the diverse reactions in the Arab world to Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election, and explains why different countries and actors view his return to the White House in different lights.
Read the full episode summary
Trump versus Biden: Who is better for the Middle East?
According to Shapiro, although Trump is seen as racist, sexist, and unpredictable, a second term for him is perceived as a better choice for the Middle East than a continuation of the Biden administration. She argues that the Middle East is a chaotic region that needs a strong and unpredictable leader, traits that can work for or against the region, but are currently seen as an advantage.
The Biden administration, in contrast, is perceived as weak and as having proven itself to be a “broken reed.” Shapiro points to the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan as one of Biden’s major failures, which reinforced the image of the United States as a superpower that does not honor its commitments. Additionally, Biden’s unequivocal support for Israel in the current war has made him a hated figure among many in the Arab world. Trump, on the other hand, presents himself as a businessman who wants to end wars quickly, making him a candidate who is capable, at least in his supporters’ eyes, of winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
The Muslim vote in the United States
Boris asks about the apparent contradiction where conservative Muslim communities in the United States have traditionally preferred the progressive Democratic Party. Shapiro explains that while the Democrats used slogans about peace and human rights, Biden’s foreign policy, especially his support for Israel, has pushed many Muslim voters to vote for Trump.
Moreover, Trump’s conservative values on family and tradition align with the worldview of many religious Muslims in the United States, for example in communities like Dearborn, Michigan. Muslim preachers express concern about the influence of liberal Western culture on their children, and see Trump as an ideological ally in this struggle. Shapiro notes that one imam in Michigan called on his community to vote for the “candidate of peace”, referring to Trump.
Reactions in Arab countries
Reactions in the Arab world to Trump’s victory were varied. The Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were quick to offer congratulations. The Saudi media highlighted the warm relationship between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and recalled the major arms deal that Trump approved and Biden froze. These countries hope to continue the momentum of the Abraham Accords.
In Iran, by contrast, there is great concern. The value of the Iranian rial plummeted, and the Saudi media emphasized Iran’s fear of a possible attack on its nuclear facilities. The Iranians, who remember Trump for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, call him a “murderer.” Hamas, for its part, expressed cautious hope that Trump would fulfill his promise to end the war in Gaza.
In Egypt, they await Trump’s arrival in the hope that he will help with the country’s difficult economic and security situation, including the conflict with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. In Qatar, however, a pessimistic tone was heard. The editor-in-chief of the Qatari newspaper “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed” called Trump’s victory a “nightmare”, arguing that an unpredictable businessman with no political vision is a dangerous partner. According to Shapiro, Qatar felt it could maneuver the Biden administration more easily.
The divided Lebanese arena
In Lebanon, the reactions reflect the deep political divide. The caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, offered only a laconic and forced congratulation. The speaker of parliament, Nabih Berri, refrained from congratulating Trump and said he would judge him only at the end of his term. Hezbollah expressed indifference and declared that the “resistance” would determine the reality on the ground, not one American president or another. The newspaper close to the organization, “Al-Akhbar”, expressed skepticism about Trump’s promises to end the wars in the region.
On the other hand, opponents of the axis of resistance, such as Samir Geagea and Saad Al-Hariri, breathed a sigh of relief. They hope that Trump will act to curb Iranian influence and help Lebanon emerge from the deep crisis it is in. The newspaper “An-Nahar”, which is critical of Hezbollah, presented Trump’s victory as bad news for the axis of resistance and good news for Lebanon.
Trump’s legacy and the Abraham Accords
Shapiro concludes by recalling that the Arab world has not forgotten Trump’s actions during his first term, such as moving the embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and promoting the “Deal of the Century” which marginalized the Palestinian issue. However, the desire to renew the Abraham Accords, which are first and foremost economic agreements, outweighs old grievances among the moderate states. She adds that officials in Iran have admitted that the October 7th attack was intended, among other things, to halt the normalization process with Israel, which was expanding and threatening to overshadow the Palestinian issue.
The original episode, in Hebrew: העולם הערבי מגיב לבחירתו של טראמפ