Americano Professor Mearsheimer: why Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ won’t work
Sep 30, 2025
In this conversation, Professor John Mearsheimer, a leading political scientist, discusses the viability of Trump's Gaza peace plan. He examines the complex pressures facing Trump amid international conflicts and critiques the lack of Palestinian self-determination in the proposal. Mearsheimer argues that Hamas would reject the deal due to significant power dynamics and highlights the troubling use of the term 'genocide' concerning Gaza. He also analyzes the implications of this plan on U.S. foreign policy and potential Saudi-Israeli relations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump As Reluctant War Leader
- John Mearsheimer argues Trump is fundamentally not a warmonger and prefers deals over force.
- Mearsheimer says Trump is worn out and has struggled to end major conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine.
Plan Skewed Toward Israel
- Mearsheimer says the 20-point Gaza plan is effectively an Israeli-American proposal skewed toward Israeli demands.
- He argues Hamas wasn't consulted and would likely reject terms that remove its leverage and defenses.
Plan Removes Palestinian Leverage
- The plan demands Hamas surrender hostages within 72 hours and disarm completely, leaving Palestinians defenseless.
- Mearsheimer highlights there's no clear political horizon or Palestinian self-determination in the proposal.