Best of the Spectator Americano: Prof Mearsheimer on why Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ won’t work
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Sep 30, 2025 
John Mearsheimer, a renowned scholar of international relations, joins to dissect Trump's Gaza peace plan. They explore Trump's foreign policy fatigue and compare his non-interventionist instincts with Biden's active approach. Mearsheimer critiques the 20-point plan as favoring Israeli interests and outlines grim scenarios if Hamas rejects it. The discussion delves into the complexities of genocide terminology and why Hamas will leverage hostages. Finally, they assess the challenges in achieving a Saudi-Israeli accord amid ongoing conflicts.
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Trump Wants Peace But Is Worn Down
- John Mearsheimer argues Trump is worn out and frustrated by foreign policy crises like Gaza and Ukraine.
- Trump wants peace but lacks success and stamina to shut down these conflicts effectively.
A Non‑Warmonger With Mixed Results
- Mearsheimer says Trump is less of a warmonger than recent Democrats and prefers diplomacy and deals.
- He still failed to stop some conflicts and even initiated limited military actions during his term.
The Plan Favors Israel, Not A Balanced Deal
- Mearsheimer describes Trump's 20-point Gaza plan as essentially an Israeli‑American proposal favoring Israel.
- He argues Hamas was excluded and the terms (hostage release, disarmament, phased Israeli withdrawal) make acceptance unlikely.