In the world of geopolitics, few contrasts are as stark as the one between Vice President Kamala Harris and the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump — especially when it comes to their records on Israel, the Middle East, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The difference in their approaches also underscores a broader divide in American politics.
President Trump’s vision is peace through strength and his policies embrace a robust defense of the national interests of the United States and our allies. Vice President Harris’s vision is a continuation of the Obama and Biden policies of scolding and lecturing our allies and appeasing our adversaries.
President Trump was the most effective president in history for the U.S.-Israel relationship. His administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as the eternal and undivided capital of Israel and the subsequent relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem were not symbolic gestures but instead were bold affirmations of Israel’s sovereignty. After almost 80 years of so-called experts saying that such a move would be destabilizing and therefore impossible, President Trump took clear, decisive action that left no doubt that the United States stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our indispensable ally.
President Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and his brokering of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, further demonstrated his commitment to clear, decisive action and peace through strength.
When President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, he recognized the folly of the Obama-Biden-Harris doctrine of appeasing Iran with the hope that the regime in Tehran would, some day, choose to follow a more moderate path. President Trump followed up on the withdrawal from the Iran deal by leveling crippling sanctions against the Iranian regime, putting the world on notice that if you do business with Tehran, you will not be able to do business with the United States of America.
Harris, on the other hand, represents an administration that has been far less consistent in its support for Israel while, at the same time, doubling and tripling-down on their appeasement of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
While Harris has publicly stated her support for Israel’s right to defend itself, the Biden administration’s approach has often been marked by a return to the policies of the Obama era — policies that many believe undermined Israel’s security. The push to reopen the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, which would serve as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians, and the administration’s lukewarm response to the rise of anti-Israel rhetoric within the Democratic Party raise serious concerns about the future of the U.S.-Israel relations under Harris’s leadership.
President Trump’s vision and record harken back to President Ronald Regan and his embrace of peace through strength. The Abraham Accords are a testament to this philosophy. By bringing together Israel and key Arab nations like the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain, President Trump reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, creating a coalition united against common threats, particularly Iran.
In contrast, Harris has aligned herself with a more traditional, and arguably outdated, approach to the Middle East — one that prioritizes diplomatic engagement with adversaries over solidifying alliances with trusted partners. The Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to re-engage with the Palestinian leadership, despite its history of incitement and refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, signal a departure from the progress made under President Trump. This shift in focus from strengthening Israel’s position to appeasing its adversaries threatens to unravel the fragile stability achieved in the region.
Perhaps the most glaring difference between Trump and Harris lies in their approach to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign isolated Iran, crippled its economy, and significantly reduced its ability to fund terrorist organizations across the region.
By withdrawing from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, Trump sent a clear message: the United States would not tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran.
Under Harris, however, the Biden administration has been desperately trying to revive the Iran nuclear deal — a deal that not only failed to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear ambitions but also emboldened the regime by providing it with billions of dollars in sanctions relief. Harris’s support for re-entering the deal is a dangerous gamble, one that risks enabling Iran’s hegemonic ambitions in the Middle East and threatens the security of our ally, Israel.
The contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on these critical issues couldn’t be more clear.
Trump’s policies in the Middle East were rooted in a deep commitment to Israel’s security and a clear-eyed understanding of the threats posed by adversaries like Iran. Harris, on the other hand, represents a return to the failed policies of the past — policies that appease our enemies at the expense of our allies and have resulted in dead Americans.
As we look to the future, the choice is clear: America needs leadership that will stand unequivocally with Israel, continue the progress made in the Middle East, and take a hard line against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Donald J. Trump has proven that he is the leader who can deliver on these promises. Kamala Harris, by contrast, has shown that her approach would only further undermine the hard-won gains of the Trump years and further weaken America’s position on the global stage.
Jeff Bartos is a Republican strategist and former U.S. Senate and Lt. Governor candidate from Pennsylvania. He can be found on X @Jeff_Bartos.