Inside the US President's working method

There is no doubt that the United States remains the world’s greatest superpower. The country has to keep an eye on regions as small as McDonald Island and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, as well as broader areas like Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. While we, the common people, might not even know about these tiny islands, the United States must stay informed about their economies, strategic positions, and potential benefits to formulate policies.

In this regard, the US State Department, CIA, and various intelligence agencies, along with several private organizations, continuously monitor these regions. Reports are prepared based on this intelligence, and they eventually make their way to the President after getting shortened. In some cases, the President is briefed only. For these tasks, the President appoints trusted individuals right after being elected, and they brief him on the matters at hand. The President takes their input seriously and bases his foreign policy decisions on it. What the President says publicly is merely the tip of the iceberg. It’s from these short statements by the President or briefings by the White House spokesperson or the Secretary of State that the world understands the direction of the President's policies.

The President of the United States typically appoints like-minded, trusted individuals who are in his good books, and the personal opinions of these appointees are often reflected in US policies. This is not only true for the current President Donald Trump, but for all Presidents. Given that the Middle East is currently going through a very complex and difficult situation, with direct US involvement, we can focus on this region in particular.

Donald Trump has appointed Steven Witkoff as his Special Envoy for the Middle East. For the talks or meetings Trump is planning in Saudi Arabia to bring an end to the Ukraine war, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East representative Steven Witkoff are representing the US. These discussions began on February 18, and there is a storm brewing around them. There is a growing complexity and heated exchange between Europe and the US regarding whether Europe, and even Ukraine, will be able to participate. It is becoming clear from the statements of France, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine that Europe and Ukraine are dissatisfied with the current Trump administration. The UK has already announced its readiness to send troops to Ukraine.

Anyway, the focus of the discussion now will be on how Marco Rubio, Mike Walz, and Steven Witkoff view the situation. Their stance on how much leniency they are willing to offer Russia, how much involvement they want from Europe, and how President Trump will make his decisions based on these factors.

To understand Witkoff 's role, it helps to understand who he is and his mental makeup. Steven Witkoff, of Jewish descent, passed his law exams in the 1980s and started working at the real estate company Dreyer & Traub's law firm. It was there that he met Donald J. Trump as a client. Inspired by Trump, Witkoff ventured into the real estate business and started operations in Manhattan. Over time, his business expanded to Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, and even London. He was known to carry a weapon when collecting rent in the real estate business. He is not only a strong supporter of the Abraham Accords, but also an advocate for expanding this agreement, which was signed in 2020. He also holds a sympathetic view toward Russia, much like President Donald Trump.

On the other hand, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is of Cuban descent. His parents left Cuba not during Fidel Castro’s time, but during the rule of Fulgencio Batista, who was responsible for the execution of over 20,000 revolutionaries. Given that Fidel Castro's Cuba had a strong alliance with Russia, it is clear that Rubio is not fiercely anti-Russian.

The Biden administration has provided significant aid and support to Ukraine, but the Trump administration seems eager to distance itself from that stance. In fact, there is a clear divide on this issue between the United States and Europe. Regarding Ukraine, President Trump has notably excluded not only Europe but also Ukraine from the discussions. On February 17, European leaders, realizing the gravity of the situation, held an urgent meeting; however, the question remains, will President Trump’s team shift its position? This is uncertain, as Trump’s team lacks individuals with a strong pro-Ukraine stance, and most support his policies toward Ukraine.

As I mentioned earlier, outside of the Cabinet, there are two other critical positions that provide the President with full cooperation in foreign policy matters: the Director of National Intelligence and the FBI Director. For these roles, he has appointed Tulsi Gabbard and Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel, known as Cam Patel. Tulsi Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party to join the Republican Party, is deeply adversarial to many, including Hillary Clinton. While she was once strongly opposed to Trump, they share one common goal: both are committed to defeating Islamic extremism. Gabbard, a devout Hindu and follower of the Hare Krishna movement, is a dedicated believer in Hinduism, even though her parents are not of Indian descent. As the National Intelligence Director, her role within the Trump administration will be vital.

On the other hand, Trump has appointed Kash Patel, an Indian-American lawyer and former ice hockey player from Gujarat, to head the FBI. Patel has repeatedly stated that the FBI’s actions have not been satisfactory. Trump has placed his trust in Patel, frequently praising him. Trump has claimed that under Patel’s leadership, the FBI will eradicate crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and immigrant crime. Nearly a month into his presidency, Trump has made changes in various areas of governance. Now, these officials are expected to formulate their new strategies and begin their work in their respective fields. For now, most of the changes are merely statements and decisions, and it may take several years to witness the full implementation of changes. This is because US policies rarely happen overnight. The President doesn’t make decisions alone; he leaves it to the people he trusts.

Mohsin Habib: Writer and International Analyst