Will Trump’s Middle East Plan Rekindle Our Love of Arab Culture?

Will Trump’s Middle East Plan Rekindle Our Love of Arab Culture?
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) is greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he arrives at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 13, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Images
Susan D. Harris
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Commentary
President Trump’s Gulf tour, complete with camel parades and sword dancers, rekindled a century-old Western love affair with Arab culture. The dazzling display of Gulf Arab customs that streamed on our smartphones in 2025 stood in stark contrast to an era when such imagery was only available through a National Geographic subscription or a grainy television documentary.