Donald Trump’s inaugural speech was more muted on Israel than many expected

President Donald Trump is a natural showman, prone to bold, colourful language. Like all politicians, he also loves taking credit for his wins. So it was striking that the day after Hamas released three Israeli hostages, he devoted more time in his inaugural address to Panama and its canal than to Israel.

Israel was a prominent issue during the 2024 campaign. It’s also remained in the news. Yet only a single paragraph, about Trump’s wanting to be “a peacemaker and unifier”, referenced Israel. He said: “I’m pleased to say that as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families.”

Notably, this omitted Israel, the nation from which the hostages were stolen. That was surprising since Americans generally, and Republican voters in particular, support Israel. As Jewish Insider reported, this line “drew a wide and bipartisan standing ovation from a majority of attendees at the Capitol Rotunda ceremony.”

This was likely more muted than what Trump had hoped to say. Speculation had swirled that he wanted to echo President Reagan’s triumphant 1981 inauguration-linked release of US hostages from Iran. Trump’s version saw Hamas release three hostages Sunday, with 33 in total expected to be released over six weeks. (Ninety-four hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of whom are presumed dead.)

If American Jews’ recent comments on social media are any indication, Trump may have limited discussion of this deal during his televised address because voters most focused on the deal are hardly thrilled by it. US Jews continue to wholeheartedly support Israelis dealing with this national trauma, but many American Jews have not cheered their own government’s role in the ceasefire deal.

Trump-supporting Jews, in particular, split. Group one expressed anger and wariness. They wondered why Trump’s negotiating team, led by Steve Witkoff (who is Jewish), reportedly pressured Israel to accept a deal that leaves hostages – including Americans – in Gaza, threatens Israel’s long-term security, and doesn’t squeeze Hamas-ally Qatar. That Witkoff has done business with Qatar only further alienated this group.

Group two focused on identifying information the public might be missing, after Trump unexpectedly green-lit a Biden-esque deal. According to Axios, Netanyahu has been assured that if negotiations fail, “the US will support renewed Israeli military action”.

It was reported on Monday that Trump is not confident the ceasefire deal will hold. However, he was effusive about the deal – and Witkoff’s work – during Sunday’s pre-inauguration rally. There, Trump called the deal “epic” and “a first step toward lasting peace in the Middle East”.

Perhaps more significantly, the hostages and Israel were woven across the inaugural weekend. As the Jewish News Syndicate reported, “some 100 supporters stood with hostages’ family members” on Sunday by the Washington Monument, drawing attention to the hostages’ situation.

At the inauguration, Yeshiva University president Rabbi Dr Ari Berman wore a yellow ribbon pin while delivering the Jewish benediction. Berman said, “Hear the cry of the hostages – both American and Israeli – whose pain our president so acutely feels,” expressed gratitude for the three hostages’ return, and prayed for peace.

At Trump’s indoor inaugural parade, hostage families sat in the front at the Capital One Arena with their their eye-catching yellow scarves. They were invited on stage, applauded, and inspired chants of “Bring them home!”. Trump spoke about the plight of the hostages in his speech.

Beyond that, Israel-related policy will clearly be part of Trump’s second-term policy transformation. Among the executive orders Trump rescinded was “Executive Order 14115 of February 1, 2024 (Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank),” which had targeted some Israelis, including American-Israeli dual citizens.

Outgoing Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Herzog said he expects Trump “to lift the Biden administration’s hold on the supply of 2,000-pound bombs in his first days in office.” He further expects Trump will “take steps against the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its decision to issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and his former minister of defence.”

Finally, Jewish Insider cited unnamed Republican staffers saying “they expect the Houthis FTO [Foreign Terrorist Organisation] re-designation to be an early action”.

The future remains unknown and always entails risk — especially for a Jewish nation living beside Hamas’ Jew-haters. But hopefully Trump 2.0 will mean that Israelis can finally exhale.

Melissa Langsam Braunstein is a writer based in the Washington DC area

@slowhoneybee