President Trump continues the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. while working to bring peace to the Middle East

The inauguration of President Donald Trump’s second term on January 20, 2025, will coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time when the civil rights leader’s legacy is honored. While King and Trump may seem distant politically, there is an intriguing, often overlooked connection between their views on peace — particularly through economic cooperation as a path to stability in the Middle East.

In 1966, dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he proposed an innovative way to peace in The Middle East — not by military force or political negotiations, but by economic cooperation. Amid regional divisions, King focused on religious tourism, particularly Christian pilgrimages, as a way to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between Jews and Arabs.

As I say in my book Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. & the Jewish community, King’s approach to peace was rooted in the belief that lasting change could not be achieved by force, but by economic incentives created through collective efforts. The king realized that it was Political deadlock in the Middle East could be broken by creating opportunities for Israelis and Arabs to work together—an idea that was radical for its time. In 1966, he proposed sending 5,000 American Christians on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, encouraging them to visit holy sites in Israel and surrounding Arab nations. King’s goal was to build bridges between these communities, promoting economic growth and cultural exchange.

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King believed that economic partnerships could transcend political and religious divisions. His plan called for American Christians to visit holy sites in Israel and Arab countries to promote economic activity and mutual understanding. In November 1966, King sent Andrew Young to Israel to negotiate with Israeli and Jordanian officials to open the Mandelbaum Gate, a restricted crossing between the Israeli and Jordanian parts of Jerusalem. Both countries expressed interest in the economic potential of the project. King also proposed building an amphitheater on the Sea of ​​Galilee to convey a message of peace and unity.

The economic benefits were clear: religious tourism could create jobs, boost local economies and, most importantly, serve as a bridge to peace between Arabs and Jews. King’s vision was not just about diplomacy, but about creating an economic infrastructure that would bring people together. As Young recalled, King believed the pilgrimage would show “how much everyone could get by working together.”

Unfortunately, King’s vision was never realized. The outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967 unsettled the region and destroyed any hope for his initiative. King’s plan for peace through economic cooperation was stalled by the geopolitical realities of his time, but the concept of using economics as a tool for peace would influence future leaders.

Fast forward to the 21st century and the century of President Donald Trump The Middle East policies largely echo King’s original vision. Trump’s “peace through prosperity” strategy, unveiled in 2018, emphasizes economic cooperation as the foundation of peace.

Through the Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, Trump successfully normalized relations between Israel and several Arab countries. These agreements exemplified Trump’s belief that peace can be fostered not only through political agreements, but also through economic incentives — trade deals, investments and joint ventures in areas such as technology, energy and tourism.

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Last Wednesday, Trump said he would use the momentum of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal to expand the Abraham Accords. The agreement laid the foundations for economic cooperation, but much work is still needed to create lasting peace. King’s vision called for deep, comprehensive economic cooperation that went beyond political normalization, while Trump’s approach, while influential, is still evolving. True peace in the Middle East will require not only political agreements, but also deeper, sustainable economic partnerships that promote long-term stability and shared prosperity.

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As President Trump begins his second term, the journey toward peace is far from over. The The Middle East it still needs sustainable economic cooperation, and Trump must continue to promote King’s principles of “peace through prosperity.” The Abrahamic accords laid the foundations, but real peace will come from expanding these economic ties and building lasting structures of cooperation that go beyond short-term political agreements.

In order to fully realize the promise of peace in the Middle East, President Trump must embrace and build on the vision of Dr. Kinga for economic cooperation. While King’s vision was cut short by the harsh realities of his time, Trump’s “peace through prosperity” approach, particularly through the Abraham Accords, reflects the same core belief: that economic cooperation – not only political agreements – can form the basis for lasting peace. This journey, rooted in mutual understanding, shared economic opportunity and long-term stability, is still unfolding. Only by spreading King’s ideas can Trump’s policies reach their full potential, and only then will the region come closer to the lasting peace that both leaders envisioned.