Donald Trump wins US presidency, signaling major shifts for Middle East

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a historic return to the White House for the former president. 

Trump’s victory on Tuesday came after winning the state of Pennsylvania, helping him surpass the 270 Electoral College majority needed to win the presidency.  

While votes are still rolling in from some swing states such as Nevada, Arizona and Michigan, Harris underperformed in crucial areas. Trump also won the popular vote, with the Associated Press reporting his numbers at around 71.3 million so far and Harris at 66.4 million, or 51% and 47.5%, respectively.

Trump declared victory to his supporters in Florida, saying the results give him a “great feeling of love” and grants him “a powerful mandate" by winning the popular vote. He mentioned the Arab-American and Muslim-American votes as part of his coalition and reiterated his desire to "stop wars" in the Middle East. 

Trump over-performed the polls that had showed neck and neck race for nearly a month leading up to election day. 

While foreign policy was not central in his campaign, Trump’s presidency will likely have a key impact on the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon and may also be welcome news for powerful actors in the region, like Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.   

Close friend of Israel

Trump has voiced mixed messaging about the war in Gaza, on the one hand encouraging Netanyahu to “finish the problem,” while on the other calling on Israel to “stop killing people." Trump has maintained, even while out of the executive office, a relationship with Israel’s Netanyahu, claiming to call him frequently: “We have a very good relationship ... We’re going to work with them very closely,” Trump said at a campaign rally in Georgia late October.  

In a statement Wednesday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump before the results were final. "Dear Donald and Melania Trump, congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America," Netanyahu wrote in a statement. 

Far-right Israeli minister of national security Ben Gvir was quick to celebrate Trump's win, posting on X a celebratory message with US and Israeli flags.

Trump has been more direct on Israel's war in Lebanon. On Sept. 26 he called the conflict in Lebanon “unacceptable,” saying “we have to have that ended, one way or the other.” More recently, in a message to the Lebanese-American community posted to Truth Social and X on Oct. 26, Trump promised to “fix the problems caused by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden and stop the suffering and destruction in Lebanon.” He added “Your friends and family in Lebanon deserve to live in peace.”  

Tough on Iran

On Iran, Trump’s prior administration withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, imposing heavy sanctions that cut Iranian oil exports but did not stop nuclear enrichment. Trump in September stated, “we have to make a deal” with Iran, although he has yet to outline any specific terms and has in the meantime advocated for Israel to exact harsh retaliation on Iran after its Oct. 1 missile attack, even encouraging Israel to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. 

Last month, US intelligence officials informed the Trump campaign about assassination threats from Iran, with the campaign noting that the threat has "intensified in recent months."

Close to Saudi Arabia

Trump’s presidency may also strengthen US-Saudi relations, building on his previous administration's relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to an April 3 report from The New York Times, Trump and the crown prince had spoken on the phone "recently," and in October Trump's son-in-law and former senior advisor Jared Kushner was revealed to have discussed US-Saudi relations with the crown prince. 

Saudi leaders may embrace Trump’s return, anticipating alignment on key issues like countering Iran’s influence and weapons deals, priorities that defined Trump’s previous Gulf policy. 

Trump will be inaugurated in Washington DC, Jan. 20, 2025.  

This is a breaking story and will be updated.