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Episode: Trump, the “Peace President,” Continues Endless American Wars

Date: November 18, 2025
Host: Murtaza Hussain (A)
Guest: Eric Sperling (B), Executive Director, Just Foreign Policy

Episode Overview

This episode explores the continuity of U.S. foreign policy across administrations, with a particular focus on Donald Trump’s second term. Despite branding himself as the “peace president,” Trump’s administration continues expending U.S. military and political capital in ongoing wars and interventions, notably in Gaza, Venezuela, and through support of authoritarian allies like Pakistan. Host Murtaza Hussain and guest Eric Sperling dissect the realities and rhetoric of Trump's foreign policy, exposing the contradictions, underlying power structures, and consequences for democracy and international stability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality Behind Trump’s “Peace President” Persona

• Despite campaign promises to break with traditional U.S. interventionism, Trump’s actual policies resemble those of previous presidents, continuing U.S. involvement in wars and supporting repressive regimes ([00:17]).
• Trump has presided over attacks on Yemen and Iran, unwavering support for Israel despite the Gaza genocide, and escalating threats towards Venezuela ([00:17]).

2. Trump’s Gaza "Peace Plan": Neocolonialism in Disguise

• Current Situation: Initial phase of ceasefire in Gaza; prisoner exchanges and some aid resumption, but mass suffering and violence persist ([02:08]).

• The Plan's Vision:

  • Ambiguous “Phase Two” envisions a final-status solution for Gaza, possibly extending to the broader Palestinian political future ([02:08]).
  • U.S. officials—echoed by Senators like Lindsey Graham—increasingly discuss a future Palestinian entity dominated by Gulf dictatorships (Saudi and UAE) rather than democratic local governance ([04:00]).
    • “It will not actually be a democratic Palestinian state. It will be more of an emirate... the dictators of the UAE and Saudi Arabia... will come in and create an emirate in the Palestine, as he said.”
      — Eric Sperling ([04:23])
  • This plan matches the long-standing Washington consensus, supported by both Democrats and Republicans—a comfortable neocolonial model that insulates Israel from international criticism ([04:51]).

• Deceptive Messaging:

  • Extreme Israeli government voices threaten mass expulsion of Gazans, but U.S./Gulf-backed proposals offer an alternative which, while seeming less severe, actually meets Israeli and American strategic interests by nullifying Palestinian sovereignty ([06:05]).
    • “It’s almost... a trick, but it‘s a structured messaging which allows the Israelis and the US to accomplish something that they wanted anyways.”
      — Murtaza Hussain ([06:21])

• The “Emirate” Model:

  • Equates to a non-democratic, security-oriented Palestinian political entity beholden to Israel and U.S.-aligned Gulf governments ([10:21]).

3. Washington’s Geostrategic Calculations: Integration and Containment

• U.S. “grand strategy” prioritizes a stable Middle East under an integrated security and economic sphere to pivot focus against China ([16:12]).
• The planned India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is cited as the economic backbone of this strategy, necessitating Middle East normalization and “stability” via control over Palestinian territories ([18:10]).

4. Resistance and Complicity: Regional and Political Responses

• Gulf States:

  • Saudi and UAE regimes insist on a two-state solution as a minimum, needing to present any normalization as a win for Palestinians to retain internal legitimacy ([18:10]).
  • Skepticism towards Trump’s capacity or willingness to effectively pressure Israel, creating friction even among U.S. allies ([18:57]).
    • “They don’t trust Trump to constrain the Israelis.”
      — Eric Sperling ([19:15])

• Role of International Stabilization Force:

  • Discussions about multinational deployment to Gaza, with nations like Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Turkey mentioned ([16:12], [18:10]).
  • The real intent seen as regime change by proxy—dismantling Hamas and installing a U.S.-Gulf managed regime ([20:00]).

5. Prospects (and Boundaries) of an Imposed "Peace"

• Israeli Politics:

  • Netanyahu's coalition and hardline cabinet intensely resistant to any form of sovereign Palestinian state ([23:24]).
  • However, Israeli national security establishment and opposition parties may align with U.S. dictates if Washington applies pressure ([24:00]).
    • “Trump has total ability to control Israel if he understands and chooses to do so.”
      — Eric Sperling ([24:12])

• Progressive and Palestinian Views:

  • Within Congress, some Democrats push for a genuinely sovereign, democratic Palestinian state; others hedge with calls for “accountability” without firm support for true self-rule ([26:30]).
    • “The absolute bare minimum... is that Palestinians will emerge from this with a sense of actual sovereignty and the right to democratically decide who rules them. And that shouldn’t be a radical position.”
      — Eric Sperling ([26:39])

6. Venezuela: Renewed U.S. Interventionism

• Escalation Under Trump:

  • Increase in U.S. military deployments and lethal anti-smuggling operations in the Caribbean, thinly veiled pretext of combating drug trafficking ([29:32], [30:41]).
  • Marco Rubio and Stephen Miller drive push for regime change through both force and the threat thereof, leveraging dubious “narco-trafficking” justifications ([30:41]).

• Internal GOP Division:

  • Figures like Richard Grinnell advocate transactional engagement and stability, while others press for radical regime change, seeking to install a right-wing U.S. ally ([35:22]).
    • “It’s basically a case of Rubio and his small clique of South Florida national security extreme hawks, you know, versus essentially the entire Democratic Party, a good part of the MAGA base, and average working class Americans who want nothing to do with a new regime change war.”
      — Eric Sperling ([36:55])

7. Pakistan: U.S. Backing of Authoritarian Allies

• Backdrop:
  • U.S.-endorsed removal of popular, elected PM Imran Khan; subsequent consolidation of military rule by General Asim Munir ([38:40]).
• Bipartisan U.S. Cynicism:
  • Trump’s initial campaign messaging implied more support for democracy in Pakistan, given his personal rapport with Khan, but influential figures like Marco Rubio worked to ensure continued U.S. support for the military regime to advance U.S./Israeli/Gulf interests ([41:35]).
    • “...as long as that country will not become aligned with Russia and China... you’re willing to sacrifice Pakistani human rights, you’re willing to work with brutal military dictatorships...”
      — Eric Sperling ([44:51])
• Bleak Outlook for Democracy:
  • Pakistani-American political advocacy growing, but faces uphill battle against entrenched U.S. security interests ([41:35], [46:10]).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Gaza Plan’s True Intent:

  • “In reality, what they’re envisioning is what amounts to essentially a regime change in Gaza... you would have a US-Gulf controlled Palestinian essentially neo-colony.”
    — Eric Sperling ([20:09])

• On U.S. Leverage Over Israel:

  • “When the US President gives an order, it’s very, very difficult for Israel to hold out and make another decision.”
    — Eric Sperling ([24:02])

• On Minimum Expectation for Palestinians:

  • “The absolute bare minimum... is that Palestinians will emerge from this with a sense of actual sovereignty and the right to democratically decide who rules them. And that shouldn’t be a radical position.”
    — Eric Sperling ([26:39])

• On Trump and Venezuela:

  • “Trump has never really shown an inclination towards taking those types of risks. I think he’d be very concerned about, you know, if it doesn’t go well... that would be attributed to him.”
    — Eric Sperling ([35:53])

• On U.S. Alignment with Authoritarian Regimes:

  • “...you’re willing to sacrifice Pakistani human rights, you’re willing to work with brutal military dictatorship as long as that country will not become aligned with Russia and China.”
    — Eric Sperling ([44:51])

Detailed Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:17-02:08] – Opening: U.S. foreign policy under Trump, overview of the Gaza conflict and peace plan.
• [04:00-06:05] – Analysis of Lindsey Graham’s “emirate” comments, Washington’s bipartisan consensus on Middle East strategy.
• [10:21-12:27] – The mechanics and implications of the “emirate” solution for Palestinians.
• [16:12-20:00] – Integration of Middle East economies, the IMEC corridor, and the international stabilization force.
• [23:24-24:00] – Israel’s internal politics, the possibility of a U.S.-imposed deal.
• [26:30-29:32] – Progressive Democratic responses and the moral minimum for Palestinian sovereignty.
• [29:32-36:55] – U.S. actions and strategic ambivalence towards Venezuela, GOP infighting, and public resistance to another regime change war.
• [38:40-46:27] – Pakistan: U.S. support for military dictatorship, suppression of democratic movement, geopolitical motivations.

Conclusion

The episode delivers a sobering assessment of U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s second term, underlining the bipartisan nature of America’s support for endless wars, neocolonial maneuvers, and authoritarian allies. The rhetoric of peace and democracy thinly veils strategic calculations focused on U.S. and Israeli security, regional integration against China, and transactional short-term gains. Progressive voices inside Washington are few but vocal, insisting that any solution—especially regarding Palestine—must include genuine sovereignty, self-determination, and democracy.

Guest: Eric Sperling – Executive Director, Just Foreign Policy
Host: Murtaza Hussain

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