For Heaven's Sake – "Trump's World"

Shalom Hartman Institute / Ark Media – January 21, 2026
Hosts: Donniel Hartman & Yossi Klein Halevi

Episode Overview

In this episode titled "Trump's World," Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi explore what it means for Israel—and, by extension, the Middle East—to live in a world shaped by the unpredictable leadership of President Donald Trump. Against a backdrop of recent high-stakes decisions concerning Iran and the formation of an international "Board of Peace" on Gaza, the hosts dissect the psychological, political, and existential impact of "Trump’s world" on Israeli society. They contextualize Israeli-American relations, analyze the emotional toll on Israelis witnessing U.S. decisions in real time, and critique the current directionlessness in Israeli policy, particularly regarding Gaza and Iran.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Living With Unpredictability: Experiencing "Trump's World"

• Waiting for Trump's Iran Decision

  • Israelis were glued to the news, anticipating whether the U.S. would bomb Iran. The press conference, expected to address these grave issues, quickly devolved into a display of Trump’s characteristic narcissism and disconnected commentary. Israelis watched, feeling "literally at the edge of our seat. Is our world gonna change or not?" (Daniel Hartman, 00:10)
  • The experience gave Israelis a first-hand taste of the unpredictability that Americans have felt, "literally transported into Trump's world... it was a dystopia." (Daniel Hartman, 00:10, 16:22)

• Agency and Powerlessness

  • Israelis realized their critical dependence on decisions being made abroad: "It’s our life, but it’s somebody else’s game." (Daniel Hartman, 03:15)
  • Yossi notes the unique vulnerability: "The consequences for us here in the Middle East... are actually much more immediate in life and death than they are for your average American." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 00:33, 07:56)

2. Trump's Narcissism and Policy Consequences

• Narcissism as Governance
  • Yossi recounts Trump’s bizarre behaviors—such as discussing the Nobel Prize with Norway’s PM and the Greenland episode—as a form of governance steeped in narcissism, "not just a personality disorder... in its extreme form, it’s a form of madness." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 05:56)
  • There is growing recognition that "when the President of the United States indulges in absurdities, it has policy consequences." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 17:47)

3. Israeli Hopes & Disappointments Around Iran

• Ambivalence Over U.S. Action

  • Hosts describe the conflicting feelings of relief and disappointment when the U.S. does not act militarily against Iran. While "hoping that Trump is going to hit Iran," Israelis also know a strike could prompt retaliation against them.
  • "Trump urged the people of Iran to go into the streets... people who were killed... because they believed they had the backing of the president." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 08:52)

• Historical Parallels & Consequences

  • Comparison to Obama’s red line in Syria, arguing that Trump risks a loss of credibility if he fails to follow through, "everyone is going to compare him to Obama. But... there were really devastating consequences." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 10:47)

4. The Global Order & Israeli Dependence

• U.S. as the Sole Superpower
  • Donniel emphasizes that despite Israel's disappointment or criticism, "there’s one superpower... it’s his [Trump’s] world... you could be profoundly disappointed and critical, but it is his world." (Daniel Hartman, 19:16)
  • With China and Russia not matching U.S. hard power, Israel "maneuvers" carefully, acutely aware of its dependency.

5. Policy Drift and Lack of Strategy

• Netanyahu Government’s Shortcomings

  • The hosts are critical of Netanyahu’s lack of clear strategic goals post-Hamas, "we are setting ourselves up for a fall by not articulating a clear goal, a political goal, not just a military goal." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 20:41)
  • Israeli policy has been set "on political expediency with no vision," resulting in missed opportunities and an inability to shape outcomes—in Gaza, especially. (Daniel Hartman, 27:01)

• The Illusion of Agency in "Trump's World"

  • Before this week’s events, Israelis convinced themselves "we’re not in Trump’s world, he’s in ours," but now face a reality check. (Daniel Hartman & Yossi Klein Halevi, 27:24)

6. Navigating "Trump’s World" Going Forward

• Strategy Adjustments

  • The clear takeaway: Israel must "start coming up with something," with the emphasis on having any vision at all. Otherwise, "you’re going to be swept up into Trump’s universe." (Daniel Hartman, 27:32)
  • Policy responses should pivot from Gaza "as a sideshow" to prioritizing Iran, leveraging limited political capital carefully. (Yossi Klein Halevi, 22:37)

• Limits on Resistance

  • Unlike with previous administrations, Israel cannot count on internal U.S. opposition to balance Trump: "There’s no one going to be on our side if we fight Trump." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 28:51)
  • Israeli politicians are reminded to recognize their current limitations and avoid old habits of "strutting" or posturing. (Daniel Hartman, 28:59)

• Impact on Israeli Politics

  • The implications for Israeli political leadership—especially Netanyahu’s strong-man persona—are explored: "It’s not a lion roaring anymore. There’s a little mouse whimpering." (Daniel Hartman, 29:51)
  • Yossi raises questions about how this will play out electorally and whether Israel can reclaim "self-determination, which has been squandered here." (Yossi Klein Halevi, 29:54; 30:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"We were literally transported into Trump's world. And I have to tell you, it was a dystopia."
— Daniel Hartman (00:10, 16:22)

"It’s our life, but it’s somebody else’s game."
— Daniel Hartman (03:15)

"Narcissism is not just a personality disorder... it’s a form of madness. And what we’re seeing... is a kind of a nervous breakdown. And this is the President of the United States, and all of our lives are in his hands."
— Yossi Klein Halevi (05:56)

"Trump urged the people of Iran to go into the streets... people who were killed... because they believed they had the backing of the president."
— Yossi Klein Halevi (08:52)

"When the President of the United States indulges in absurdities, it has policy consequences."
— Yossi Klein Halevi (17:47)

"There’s no one going to be on our side if we fight Trump."
— Yossi Klein Halevi (28:51)

"It’s not a lion roaring anymore. There’s a little mouse whimpering."
— Daniel Hartman (29:51)

Important Timestamps

• 00:10 – Israelis watching Trump’s press conference on Iran, felt immediate existential anxiety.
• 03:15 – Realization: "It’s our life, but it’s somebody else’s game."
• 05:56 – Yossi analyses Trump’s narcissism as "a form of madness."
• 08:52 – Real-life Iranian deaths after Trump’s "go to the streets" call; policy consequences.
• 16:17-17:47 – The Israeli evening news: entire nation holds its breath waiting for U.S. decision, only to be delivered a Trumpian spectacle.
• 19:16 – U.S. power as inescapable reality: "It is his world."
• 20:41-22:36 – Netanyahu’s policy failures and their consequences for Israel in Gaza and beyond.
• 28:51 – "There’s no one going to be on our side if we fight Trump."
• 29:51 – Change in Netanyahu’s perceived strength.

Tone and Language

Throughout, the hosts combine personal anecdote, humor, and sharp critique. Their language is urgent, self-reflective, and sometimes rueful, embodying what they call “disagreeing for the sake of Heaven.” The conversation is marked by a deep sense of responsibility, anxiety about the implications of U.S. decisions, and an insistence on clarity and self-honesty in Israeli policy.

Conclusion

"Trump's World" captures a watershed moment for Israelis: the transition from being spectators of U.S. unpredictability to direct participants forced to grapple with existential uncertainty. Donniel and Yossi make a forceful case that Israel’s lack of political vision—and its misplaced reliance on Trump’s favor—have left it dangerously exposed. They urge their audience (and Israeli policymakers) to confront realities, reclaim agency wherever possible, and develop strategies that reflect both the limits and demands of an ever-more chaotic global order.