Trump has pulled off the unthinkable – and it will make him king of the Middle East

The soft touch of diplomacy is not something associated with Donald Trump who prefers the shock and awe of social media than the slow hand of delicate negotiations. But for all his unpredictability and verbose approach he looks to have pulled off the unthinkable: peace in the Middle East.

History will remember Trump for many things, but his entertaining, inflammatory, and often outrageous approach to statesmanship will be chief among them. Now, too, will be bringing peace - temporary perhaps - to a powder keg region, albeit in his own inimitable way.

To his credit, Trump predicted the outcome of today’s fragile agreement some time ago.

The way it was delivered, though, was pure Donald Trump - box office and bombastic.

The US president was chairing a televised meeting on Antifa violence when he was interrupted by his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, whispering in his ear.

Seconds later, a perfectly coiffured Trump said: “I was just given a note saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly.”

Then came a lightning-fast flurry of Truth Social posts in which he promised “everlasting peace” in the Middle East after 1,000 years of failure.

Less than five years ago, thousands of his supporters gathered in Washington, DC to support false claims that the 2020 US election had been "stolen by emboldened radical-left Democrats”.

Currently, a government shutdown has brought chaos and confusion to America after the “radical left” opposed his hardline agenda.

By his own reckoning, the extraordinary deal between Israel and Hamas is the eighth war he has ended.

The details are scarce, but his ultimate pathway to peace will predictably see him become President of America and King of the Middle East.

Hamas is obliged to give up all its arms and accede to a “Council of Peace” headed by Trump himself, who will take over Gaza.

Most of the world thought Trump’s ham-fisted approach to foreign policy would inflame a powder keg, not diffuse it.

A few months ago - before his bunker bombing blitz neutered Iran’s nuclear capabilities - he boasted: “We can easily get a deal done and end this bloody conflict. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything. Make the Middle East Great Again!”

The great irony for this most unconventional peacemaker is that an unlikely peace was brokered and announced just 24 hours before the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize is revealed.

He is vanishingly unlikely to be handed humanity’s greatest prize, but next year, he’s surely a shoo-in to take his place in the pantheon of past winners, including Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa, who were recognised for their efforts to advance human rights and promote peace.

Until then, expect his timeline to be crammed full of lavish praise from world leaders who will surely be scratching their heads at just how he does it.

Giles Sheldrick is Chief Reporter for the Daily Express