President Donald Trump’s Abu Dhabi speech just flipped the script on decades of bungled U.S. foreign policy. He praised the Middle East’s transformation as a homegrown success, not the fruit of Western meddling. The so-called "Trump Doctrine" is shaking up the GOP and beyond, and it’s about time, PJ Media reported. 

Trump lauded local leaders for steering the region toward prosperity, not conflict. His speech in Abu Dhabi framed the Middle East’s progress as a triumph of its own people. This isn’t your grandfather’s nation-building fiasco—it’s a bold pivot to peace.

He didn’t mince words, slamming past U.S. efforts to reshape foreign cultures as costly failures. Trillions spent in Kabul and Baghdad? Trump says they wrecked more than they built, and he’s not wrong.

Local Leadership Drives Progress

“The gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called nation-builders,” Trump declared. He’s spotlighting a truth progressives often dodge: local agency trumps foreign blueprints. The Middle East’s new path proves it.

Trump’s rally banners in the region screamed “Peace through strength.” It’s a nod to Reagan, but with a modern twist—less war, more winning. The crowd ate it up, and so should anyone tired of endless conflicts.

This isn’t just rhetoric; it’s a seismic shift in Republican thinking. CNN’s Scott Jennings, no MAGA cheerleader, called it a departure from the old GOP war-first mindset. Even he sees the appeal of peace over chaos.

A New Republican Mindset

Jennings, on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” noted, “Trump has changed it to peace and war.” He’s right—Trump’s still ready to strike, like with the Houthi rebels, but peace is the priority. That’s a GOP evolution worth cheering.

Bill Maher, hardly a Trump fan, admitted the doctrine’s roots echo left-wing critiques of Vietnam and Iraq. “Interventionists were intervening in complex societies they did not even understand,” Maher said. Funny how Trump’s stealing the left’s thunder here.

Maher’s audience, not exactly a MAGA stronghold, applauded Trump’s approach. When even coastal elites clap for a Republican, you know something’s brewing. Actions, it seems, have consequences—and Trump’s resonating.

Broad Appeal, Unexpected Allies

Trump’s doctrine is pulling in unlikely supporters, from ex-Democrats to the politically disengaged. Jennings observed, “He’s responding to all these new inflows of constituents.” It’s a coalition built on common sense, not ideology.

The Middle East’s new leaders, Trump argued, are focused on prosperity, not grudges. Their success shows what happens when you let locals lead. Washington’s old playbook? It’s gathering dust.

Jennings put it bluntly: “Putting peace ahead of war—pretty popular with the American people right now.” He’s not wrong—war fatigue is real, and Trump’s tapping into it. The left’s anti-war crowd might even nod along.

Peace as the New Strength

Trump’s not abandoning strength; he’s redefining it. Bomb when necessary, sure, but prioritize peace deals and local empowerment. It’s pragmatic, not pacifist, and it’s working.

Maher called the Trump Doctrine “as much of a departure as any doctrine a president has ever promulgated.” That’s no small claim from a guy who’d rather eat glass than praise Trump. The shift is undeniable.

When Trump’s ideas get applause on Maher’s set, it’s clear the ground’s shifting. The Trump Doctrine—peace first, strength always—might just redefine America’s role in the world. And for once, the Middle East’s leading the way.