I know there are many of you convinced that Trump has fallen under the sway of the AIPAC/Zionist crowd. You may be right, but I think there is some hope that Trump is not fully captured. Let me remind you of some past incidents. First, on a Sixty Minutes interview following his 2020 defeat, Trump excoriated Bibi Netanyahu for being the first one to come out and congratulate Joe Biden. Trump used an expletive to describe Netanyahu. Second, most of the Jews in the United States — at least 70% — cast their vote for Harris, not Trump. Third, Trump reportedly has warned Netanyahu that the war in Gaza must be over by January 20th.

I am making a nuanced point. Trump is not reflexively going to submit to the radical Zionists. Worth recalling he also has good relations with the Haredim — the ultra-Orthodox Jews who reject the State of Israel. While I am not suggesting that Trump will side with the Palestinians, I doubt that he will be like Biden, giving Israel everything it needs to continue the carnage.

Let’s not forget that Trump wants to be liked. He made some promises to Muslim Americans as well. I do not think that Trump fully appreciates how isolated the United States is among Israel’s Arab and Muslim neighbors. MBS in Saudi Arabia, who was on the verge of cutting a deal with Trump four years ago to engage Israel in diplomatic relations, is speaking with a different voice now. There will be no relationship with Israel until there is a secure Palestinian state. To underscore that point, the Saudi Defense Minister traveled to Tehran to meet his Iranian counterpart last week.

While I’m willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, I stand by my belief that if Trump takes the US to war in Iran or China, he will destroy his Presidency, and possibly the nation. My advice, let’s wait-and-see what Trump does his first week in office. At that point, if I am wrong, I will take the drubbing I deserve. Until then, keep your powder dry. Trump is trying to do something with the bloated US Government that has never been attempted, at least until now.

Larry Johnson, Sonar 21