Victor Davis Hanson said on Newsmax Wednesday that President Donald Trump created “an entire new Middle East.”
During an appearance on “Finnerty,” Hanson said Trump broke a longstanding myth about Iran’s perceived invincibility.
“They look at Hezbollah, and they said these were goose-stopping, stepping, you know, titans, and [the] same with Hamas. Their whole fantasies have dissolved. It’s an entire new Middle East, and it was all created by Donald Trump and with association with Bibi,” Hanson said.
Hanson said that for decades, the Middle East was defined by a set of unchallenged assumptions that Iran was untouchable, Hezbollah was a formidable force, and the U.S. had to accept countless provocations without retaliating.
WATCH:
“We lived for 50 years with a myth that you don’t ever talk about Iran. They’re indomitable. You can’t reply to the Americans who were killed in the barracks in 83. When they blow up an embassy, that’s just the way it is. If they kill 600 plus 1,000 in Iraq, we have to accept it,” Hanson added. “The idea that Donald Trump, in 35 minutes, went and took out their entire enrichment sites and didn’t lose anybody, and he had to ask the permission of the Israelis. The only hurdle they had was asking the Israelis if they could go into Iranian space, and they just can’t fathom how can he do that?”
Hanson said Trump’s actions significantly undermined groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
“They have been failing, and this one guy comes out, and then, as you point out, he doesn’t go to his beach house and sit on the beach and relax and hope people praise him. He goes right over to NATO, and he says ‘When I came in, there were five countries that met the 32-country alliances of 2%,” Hanson added. “I see now there’s 23. I think we need to go up to 5%.”
NATO members agreed to raise defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035 after Trump’s persistent pressure, marking a significant win for the alliance. Trump praised the commitment as a major victory for the U.S., Europe, and Western civilization, countering past criticisms that his tough stance would weaken NATO.
Trump has consistently criticized NATO members for not meeting the 2% GDP defense spending commitment, while the U.S. bears a disproportionate share of the defense burden. In 2024, countries like Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Spain failed to meet the 2% threshold, according to the Atlantic Council.
All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline, and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Gallego makes bold claim about Trump’s intentions toward Venezuela - December 17, 2025
- Scott Jennings clarifies where Wiles stands with Trump after Vanity Fair backlash - December 17, 2025
- Trump orders major escalation against Venezuela - December 17, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
