This past week, while Bruce Springsteen was trashing President Trump from a European stage, and California Governor Gavin Newsom was blaming his state’s economic collapse on Trump, and former FBI Director Jim Comey was rearranging seashells in hopes of “’86ing ’47,” Trump was in the Middle East, attempting something far more consequential: peace and economic development.

Trump, for all the noise around him, appears to be playing masterful chess on the world stage, while self-important celebrities and political relics amuse themselves with tiddlywinks and tired talking points.

Meanwhile, I found myself under fire from a woman in Illinois. She was appalled that I’d dared to publish commentary about Trump in her local newspaper. According to her, I was spreading lies. Trump, she declared, was robbing the American people blind. Before I could respond, she informed me that she was off to Target, where watermelon now costs $7 because of Trump’s tariffs.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that watermelons are grown right here in the United States and aren’t subject to any tariffs.

Speaking of tariffs, notice how little you’re hearing about them lately? That’s no accident. Trump’s hard-nosed negotiations have begun to reshape the global trade landscape into something fairer and more balanced, but don’t expect the press to give him credit for it.

Still, none of that compares to the main story: Trump’s spectacular and consequential trip to the Middle East. While his critics recycle old grievances and bicker over slogans, he’s conducting diplomacy that could reshape the future of an entire region.

By the time he left the Middle East, his list of accomplishments was nothing short of historic – beneficial not only to the US but also the world at large. Framed as a business trip, Trump announced his goal was to secure at least $1 trillion in trade and investment deals. He far exceeded expectations, striking major agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

In a move that stunned much of the world, Trump lifted decades-long sanctions on Syria, a diplomatic move few anticipated. “We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syria’s new government,” he declared. During the visit, he met with Syrian President Al-Shara and urged Syria to join the Abraham Accords, offering normalization with Israel in exchange for lifting the sanctions.

In Saudi Arabia, Trump signed a $600 billion “strategic economic partnership” agreement with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The specifics of the deal includes investments in U.S. AI data centers and energy infrastructure, along with $142 billion in defense contracts. Trump believes the total economic impact could reach $1 trillion and generate up to two million American jobs.

Next, in Qatar, he secured another $1.2 trillion in potential economic exchange. This includes the sale of 210 Boeing jets valued at $96 billion and mirrors Saudi Arabia’s commitments in areas like energy infrastructure, quantum technology, and workforce development.

As a gesture of gratitude, Qatar offered Trump a custom $400 million Boeing 747-8 jet. He’s reportedly leaning toward accepting it. The aircraft would serve as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One and later be displayed at his presidential library. With Boeing’s new Air Force One delayed, the timing is convenient.

Naturally, Democrats are apoplectic – not just about the jet, but seemingly about Trump existing at all. They’re scrambling for ways to block the gift, invoking the Emoluments Clause, ethics regulations, and congressional oversight.

Readers of this column know I’m a committed Trump supporter, but even I’m uneasy about the optics of accepting the jet. Yes, the current Air Force One is forty years old but this isn’t the hill to fight on. It’s just more ammunition for Democrats to escalate their relentless campaign for his removal.

Trump also expanded the existing $1.4 trillion agreement with the UAE by an additional $200 billion.

While abroad, Trump also addressed Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. “I’m here today not merely to condemn the past chaos of Iran’s leaders,” he said, “but to offer them a new path toward a more hopeful future. I have never believed in having permanent enemies.” He added pointedly, “If Iran’s leadership rejects the olive branch and continues attacking its neighbors, we will have no choice but to inflict maximum pressure.”

Love him or scorn him, one thing is undeniable: Trump is attempting something historic – bringing peace to the Middle East and securing trade relations that could benefit America for decades to come.

And the Democratic response to these historic economic deals? Silence. The Democrat response calls to mind Teddy Roosevelt’s words:

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who strives valiantly… who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

While critics scoff from the sidelines, Trump is in the arena – fighting, risking, and delivering.