Was Trump Right to Be Hard on Soft Power in the Middle East?

Open to Debate

Education, Society & Culture, News, Government, Politics

4.5 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 18 April 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

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Summary

The U.S. has long balanced military strength with soft power in the Middle East through agencies like USAID. With the Trump administration reversing these policies, is this a necessary realignment—or a costly retreat? Those against these changes argue this will boost rivals like Iran and China and harm America’s image. Those hailing them argue it’s a necessary correction, favoring clear, transactional geopolitical goals over costly diplomacy. Now we debate: Was Trump Right to Be Hard on Soft Power in the Middle East? Arguing Yes: Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, President & Founder of Ideas Beyond Borders Arguing No: Jeffrey Gedmin, President & CEO of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks Xenia Wickett, Geopolitical strategist, moderator at Wickett Advisory, and Trustee of Transparency International UK, is the guest moderator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is open to debate. I'm John Donvan. Hi, everybody. This week, a debate that looks at what it will mean for the U.S. to lose influence in the Middle East. For this one, Zenya Wicked moderates. She has a background in international affairs, including stints in the White House and the State Department. These days, she is a geopolitical strategist at Wicked Advisory. I'm delighted she was able to join us and step in as moderator for
0:21.7	this one. Now on to the show, and here is Zanya Wicked. Hello, this is open to debate, and I'm Zania Wicitt.
0:29.4	In the late 1980s, Harvard professor Joe Nye introduced the concept of soft power, the ability to
0:35.8	shape others' preferences through appeal and attraction
0:38.7	rather than coercion. The US has long taken advantage of international enthusiasm for Levi's
0:45.3	jeans, Coca-Cola, Hollywood, jazz, among other things. And through these has championed its
0:51.3	values such as freedom, transparency, and an open media and economy.
0:56.2	For decades, soft power has been central to US strategy. It played a role in President Reagan's
1:01.9	vision of America as a beacon of hope. A Chatham House study I led some years ago surveying European
1:08.8	politicians and academics, journalists and business leaders,
1:12.7	found that this ideal of America was central to their positive image of the United States.
1:18.5	But Donald Trump has taken a different approach,
1:20.9	cutting funding to soft power initiatives from USAID to global media networks,
1:26.1	including the Middle East Broadcasting Network.
1:28.7	Today, we're focusing on what this rollback means for US influence in the Middle East.
1:33.9	Some argue that this was a necessary correction, real politic over wishful thinking.
1:39.7	But critics warn it was a weakening of America's long-term influence
1:44.0	and creating a vacuum into which
1:46.2	rivals like China and Russia are stepping. Was Trump right to roll back such soft power efforts?
1:53.0	Were they ineffective and a waste of resources? To explore these questions, let me introduce
1:58.1	our debaters. Arguing Trump was right to be hard on soft power in the
2:01.9	Middle East, we have Fazel Saeed Al Muttar. He's an entrepreneur and founder and president of
	...

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