The maverick Trump The Excelsior 28 Jun 2025 Maj Gen Harsha Kakar
https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/the-maverick-trump/
The maverick Trump The Excelsior 28 Jun 2025
Prior to assuming his mantle in the White House, Trump had stated on over 50 occasions that he would bring the Russo-Ukraine conflict to an end within a day of coming to power. His meeting with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, bombed in the White House, displaying immaturity of leadership on both sides. He spoke to Putin on ending the conflict, but nothing moved. It appeared that Putin was aware that Trump had nothing much to offer, apart from seeking self-credit, hence continued humouring him.
Every time Trump thought he should interject and become involved, a new operation was launched by one of the two sides, the latest being Ukraine’s Operation Spider Web, over which Russian retaliation continues. Realizing that his power and authority lacks credence, he finally stated a few days ago, ‘Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.’ Trump will continue claiming he can bring peace, knowing it takes more than just talk alongside threats of trade and sanctions.
On Gaza, Trump with Banjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli PM, alongside him, announced his audacious Gaza plan, in a press conference. He mentioned that the US would take over Gaza and its 2.3 million residents relocated to Jordan and Egypt. He even went on to state, ‘We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal. And I don’t want to be cute. I don’t want to be a wise guy. But the Riviera of the Middle East.’
Trump’s suggestion was rebuked by every Arab state, including Egypt and Jordan. In fact, it became a global joke. Today, he maintains silence on his grandiose plans. In early March, he threatened Hamas by mentioning that he is arming Israel with whatever it needs to finish the job. He tweeted, ‘Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.’
It has been three months post the warning and nothing has changed. Israel remains bogged down in Gaza, despite US weapons. Gaza has been destroyed, its people struggling for survival and Trump, as usual, missing from the battlefield. He has stopped discussing Gaza.
Trump’s White House meetings with visitors are anything but cordial. He attempted to embarrass the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, with photographs claiming them to be genocide of white farmers in his country. He mentioned, ‘These are all white farmers that are being buried.’ In reality these were of mass burials post a M23 rebel assault on Goma in Congo, an unpardonable Presidential faux pas. In a rejoinder, the South African President sarcastically commented that unlike Qatar, he has no aircraft to gift Trump.
Trump attempted to take credit for the ceasefire in Operation Sindoor. He kept announcing that he has brokered peace between the two countries on the threat of trade. He stated in a press conference, ‘If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India — we settled that whole thing. I think I settled it through trade. We’re doing a big deal with India. We’re doing a big deal with Pakistan.’
Trump kept repeating his claim hoping to gain credit for something he never did. His Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, even made an on-record submission of Trump’s statement to the US court of International Trade on 23rd May. The court was hearing appeals filed by small companies challenging Trump’s across the board 10% global tariffs. The submission was rejected by the court.
Ultimately it was PM Modi who scuttled Trump’s boasting. The Indian foreign secretary, Vikram Misri stated to the media, post a Modi-Trump conversation, ‘PM Modi clearly told President Trump that during the entire course of events, at no point, and at no level, was there any discussion about a US-India trade deal or about US mediation between India and Pakistan.’
Misri added, ‘The Prime Minister said the talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan under existing channels established between both militaries. It was done at Pakistan’s request.’ The intent was to set the record straight and put Trump in his place. In addition, Modi turned down the offer to visit the US due to scheduling issues. While Trump has toned down his claims, it is likely he will be back to boasting again.
Trump’s utterances on the Israel-Iran conflict are leading to increase in attacks rather than peace. Signals for resumption of talks and peace have flowed from Iran through multiple intermediaries but Trump, instead of accepting them diplomatically, called for ‘Unconditional Surrender,’ of Iran. No self-respecting nation nor leader will adhere to such an outrageous demand.
Initially Trump spoke as only he could, of brokering peace. He mentioned, ‘We can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict.’ Possibly goading by Israel and Iran’s retaliation to Israeli strikes forced Trump to enter the conflict with attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. This was one conflict which he could have ended but missed the occasion.
Trump has been insisting that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon ignoring his own Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard’s comment that Tehran was not building nuclear weapons. Trump mentioned, ‘I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having a nuclear weapon.’
Trump’s attempts to restore peace in even one conflict is possibly aimed at achieving the ultimate goal of being globally recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize. The last US President to be awarded the same was Barrack Obama. The very mention of nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize earned Field Marshal Asim Munir a lunch at the White House.
Pakistan is possibly amongst few nations in Trump’s good books as every leader, saving face from a humiliating defeat from India, has been praising Trump for brokering peace and recommended him for the Nobel peace prize. Asim Munir mentioning the same from US soil was music for Trump.
After attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities last week, Trump began talking of peace and negotiations. He hopes that Israel will also join in recommending him for a Nobel Peace Prize alongside Pakistan.
At the same time, Trump remains a source of humour for the world, with leaders aware of his desperation for a Nobel Peace Prize.