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

For decades, the U.S. has balanced military strength with soft power—influence through culture, diplomacy, and foreign assistance—especially in the Middle East. Agencies like USAID and media outlets such as Alhurra and Radio Sawa have aimed to promote democratic values, counter extremist narratives, and shape America’s presence in a troubled region. With recent decisions by the Trump administration to defund these agencies and move toward a foreign policy centered on economic leverage, military partnerships, and strategic disengagement, is this a necessary realignment—or a costly retreat from global influence? Those who think Trump should be softer argue this retreat cedes influence to…