The first five months of Donald Trump’s presidency have moved at such an extraordinary pace that it might be tempting to gloss over the conflict between Iran and Israel as just another ho-hum international fight. After all, many countries in the Middle East have been fighting intermittently amongst themselves since the dawn of recorded history. But like DOGE and so many other domestic issues Trump has handled, he’s brokered peace between Israel and Iran while protecting America. In fact, in just 12 days, he’s done what Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and even George W. Bush couldn’t do in their entire presidencies.

As of this writing, there is cautious optimism that the ceasefire deal Trump brokered between Israel and Iran will hold. Even this has taken some effort. Trump seemed cynical that it would work. It may not hold forever, but it at least needs to hold long enough for the US to ensure that our military has neutralized Iran’s nuclear efforts for a long time. 

This is not related to any international conflict or potential “World War III” scenario, but simply our safety. It is imperative that the US remains focused on proactive measures that keep our country safe, and Trump’s involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict shows him walking that fine line well.

On June 24, Trump told a reporter he’d brokered a peace deal between Israel and Iran but that the two countries had immediately violated it: “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*ck they’re doing."

He seemed like a disappointed father, settling a score between rambunctious sons. But it’s much more serious than that.

Iran had been steadily building towards having nuclear power, enriching uranium so it could ultimately have multiple nuclear weapons soon. This is what first drove Israel to target its nuclear sites and top generals. Trump appeared to have prior knowledge of this attack and played a role in its coordination to some degree. Now, in retrospect, after the US struck Iran’s sites with B-2 Spirit bombers, I have wondered if Israel wanted our involvement all along. As prepared and fortified as Israel is, no other country could do what the US did with our bombers. 

The announcement late June 21 that the Trump administration had planned and executed a targeted strike on Iran’s three nuclear sites was stunning. As the days afterward unfolded, it became even more clear how incredible the strategic attack on Iran was. 

Immediately, cynics wondered if Trump was attempting to help a Middle Eastern country with a regime change by assisting them to embrace democracy and human rights via the aid of our military for another 20 years. Just like we did in Afghanistan. But Trump has learned from his predecessors’ mistakes. He has no desire to repeat history—this shows incredible strategy and wisdom. 

By obliterating Iran’s nuclear sites in the middle of the night, undetected by anyone, and refusing to activate US troops nearby for a short or long-term regime change war that could fail, Trump successfully showed his ability to thread a skinny needle between waging an all-out war and shutting down Iran’s nuclear capabilities. 

So, in 12 days, Trump eliminated Iran’s nuclear threat, rejected even a hint of a US-led regime change, and negotiated a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Bush attempted to thwart terrorism and aid Afghanistan and got us caught in a 20-year regime change. Obama brokered a nuclear agreement with Iran to restrict their nuclear program—but it was in exchange for sanctions relief. Biden abandoned any deal with Iran. Seeing the progress Iran had made toward nuclear weaponry, the US and Israel might be lucky Iran hadn’t done anything aggressive yet.

Conflicts between Iran and Israel are often complicated. The ceasefire Trump brokered may not hold forever, but even a temporary one seems impressive.

Trump should get credit for his aggressive attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. Following up the move with a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel is something several presidents before him would have loved to have gotten credit for doing.