Trump and the White Horse — An Interim Assessment

The Republicans have suffered a serious defeat in the U.S. midterm elections. The Democrats have won majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This has considerably weakened President Trump’s political position halfway through his second term. What does this mean for the expectations I have repeatedly expressed over the past few years about his possible role in the Middle East? Reason enough to take stock. Or rather, to make an interim assessment, since Trump’s second term is only halfway through.

why Trump?

More than once, I have pointed to the possibility that Donald Trump could be the rider on the white horse, as described in Revelation 6:2. This rider receives a crown and goes forth, “conquering and that he should be conquering.” I have never stated categorically that Trump is this rider, but I have repeatedly put him forward as a serious candidate. And not without reason.

Even during his first term, Trump stood out for his notably good relations with Israel and with various Arab countries. Moreover, he was the driving force behind the Abraham Accords, which achieved a historic breakthrough in normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states. That is precisely why I saw Trump as a possible key player in a future peace settlement for the Middle East.

Just think of October 13, 2025, a little over a year ago. On that day, Trump was received with great honor in Israel and addressed the Knesset. He was even compared to the Persian king Cyrus. That same day, he took center stage at an international peace summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, surrounded by leaders from many countries, including Arab nations. Trump even declared there: “At last, we have peace in the Middle East.” A very remarkable moment!

two more years to go

But circumstances have changed considerably since then. The Republicans have suffered a heavy electoral defeat, and the situation in the Middle East is far from stable. Still, it would be premature to write Trump off already. His second term is only halfway through, and as president he retains considerable powers in foreign affairs.

The threat of another war with Iran illustrates how quickly relations in the Middle East can change. Such a confrontation could pave the way for a new alliance around Israel. And Trump could once again play a leading role in it.

Israel and Jerusalem

As I understand the prophecies of Daniel 2 and 7, a federation of ten states will arise in the Middle East, with the Jewish state of Israel as the central, iron power of the fourth kingdom. Will this alliance arise from Israel’s vulnerability, or rather from its military superiority? The one does not rule out the other. Military dominance and strategic vulnerability can, after all, go hand in hand.

The future position of Jerusalem is of decisive importance here. According to the prophecies, a temple will arise here, where eventually the “abomination of desolation” will be set up in the holy place (Matt. 24:15; Dan. 12:11; 2 Thess. 2:4). That will mark the beginning of the great affliction (Matt. 24:21). It is striking that in Revelation 11:8, Jerusalem is called “the great city,” which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. We are not there yet. We are still in the lead-up to these events. 

What role Trump will still play in all of this remains to be seen. But his election defeat in the midterms by no means signifies that he is out of the game. He could still make a decisive contribution to the formation of a new order in the Middle East. In that regard, Trump remains a serious candidate to establish an alliance around Israel as a peacemaker. No more and no less.

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