ME Outlook 2025: US' Middle East Policy Under President Trump

Grant Rumley, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, speaks with Clemens Chay, MEI Research Fellow, about the significance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jordan’s King Abdullah visiting Washington in the early weeks of Donald Trump’s presidency. Rumley highlights President Trump’s unconventional diplomatic style and his aim to foster peace and stability in the Middle East. Comparing policy trends across the Trump and Biden administrations, he notes that while Trump’s approach is more bilateral, there are notable parallels. Although Trump often wields the stick, he also remains open to new offers—a strategy, Rumley argues, that compels foreign leaders to assess whether the president is calling their bluff.