President Donald J. Trump

There’s no questioning that, like him and his policies or not, President Trump is having a very good week on foreign policy. Several items in the news speak to progress made on his initiatives.

First, after a few weeks of tariff wars, President Xi of China and the Trump administration have negotiated a deal where tariffs between the two economic giants will be reduced for 90 days. U. S. tariffs on China will be reduced from 145% to 30%, while Chinese tariffs on the U. S. will be reduced from 125% to 10%. The reduction was negotiated by teams from both countries meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The stock market responded with a surge. S&P 500 went up 3.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased around 2.7%. Nasdaq got a boost of 4.1%. Europe’s markets showed more modest gains, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index shot up more than 3%.

This follows on the footsteps of Trump announcing a trade deal with the United Kingdom. The U. S. will allow a certain number of U. K. cars into the U. S. with reduced import taxes, as well as letting in some steel and aluminum into the U. S. free of any tariff. There will still be a 10% duty on most goods from England. Some analysts are saying it’s not the big deal Trump is making it out to be, but British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seems excited about it. Starmer said, “This historic deal delivers for British business and British workers protecting thousands of British jobs in key sectors including car manufacturing and steel.” He went further and declared that, “the UK has no greater ally than the United States.”

On Saturday, May 10, Pakistan and India announced a ceasefire in their conflict after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a team from the Trump administration began working with the two countries to avoid a large-scale war. While there were some initial accusations from both countries that the other was not abiding by the terms of the ceasefire, observers report that the ceasefire seems to be holding. India, in its statements on the matter, didn’t mention the U. S.’s role in the negotiations. But Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif communicated his gratitude toward President Trump: “We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region. Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability.” Sharif also thanked Secretary Rubio and VP Vance for “their valuable contributions for peace in South Asia.”

In another matter where Trump’s intervention has proved fruitful, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has agreed to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Europe and the U. S. demanded that Putin agree to a 30-day ceasefire or face greater sanctions. Instead, Putin offered the option of meeting with Zelensky in Turkey. Trump told Zelensky he needed to accept the offer immediately, and Zelensky did. It’s not clear if Putin will attend in person, but Zelensky has said he will be there.

Finally, following seven days of talks between the U. S. and Hamas, U. S.-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was released by Hamas, after enduring 18 months in captivity. National Public Radio reported, “A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that the release was in return for unspecified gestures the U.S. promised. The official hinted Hamas anticipated Israel would release some Palestinian prisoners and ensure some aid into Gaza, and expected the U.S. to negotiate a broader deal with Israel that guarantees the end of the war.” Israel has been blockaiding Gaza for the last ten weeks of food and medical supplies in the effort to pressure Hamas to release more hostages. Alexnader is believed to be the last remaining American hostage who is alive. The bodies of four other Americans remain in Hamas’ possession.

I’ve taken some guff from friends who don’t like it when I praise Trump for what he’s done that I like, and guff from friends who don’t like it when I criticize him for what he’s done that I don’t like. My policy is pretty straightforward: I try to give credit where credit is due, regardless of my personal feelings for anyone. If someone does something I like, I say so. If someone does something I don’t like, I say so. I’ve followed this practice for presidents, senators, representatives, priests, bishops, and even popes. I don’t know any other way of doing it, and I don’t plan on changing.

But this has been a week of extraordinary accomplishments for Trump on foreign policy, and that should be said. Progress is being made on very difficult and tense matters, and that’s good for everybody.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.