Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump embarked on a diplomatic tour of the Gulf, making high-profile visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to court foreign investment and tout economic cooperation. But behind the glitz of handshakes, luxury receptions, and blaring renditions of YMCA, a darker reality cast a long shadow.
Fox News host Mark Levin—normally a steadfast supporter of Trump—broke ranks, delivering a stark and emotional rebuke that reflects a deeper truth: some wounds should never be whitewashed in the name of diplomacy.
Memory Matters: The Shadow of 9/11
Levin reminded Americans that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not just strategic partners—they are also complicit in our nation’s deepest trauma. Saudi Arabia’s links to the 9/11 hijackers have been long documented, and Qatar provided safe haven to figures tied to the attacks. Despite these facts, their ruling elites have never offered a public apology or faced full accountability.
“I cannot let bygones be bygones,” Levin wrote. “I can’t stop thinking about all the innocent people who went to work that day… and all the firefighters and police officers who died horrible deaths.”
We agree.
No Partnership Without Principles
As Christians and Jews united by a biblical worldview, we are called to love justice and reject alliances with those who glorify evil. While economic cooperation and diplomatic outreach have their place, they must not come at the cost of moral clarity. We are not isolationists—we believe in a strong America on the world stage. But strength does not mean silence in the face of terror.
Our Scriptures teach us: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” (Isaiah 5:20)
When we embrace regimes that fund terror, oppress religious minorities, and deny basic freedoms, we risk compromising not only our values but our very security.
Qatar, Hamas, and the Double Standard
Qatar’s support for Hamas, its soft treatment of extremists, and its vast influence over global media through Al Jazeera should disqualify it from being treated as a benign partner. Yet, it continues to enjoy international legitimacy and American attention.
Where is the outcry for the hostages held in Gaza? Where is the demand for human rights reform in Doha?
We must speak plainly: the money of monarchs should never outweigh the memory of the murdered.
America’s Role and Israel’s Security
At a time when Iran is edging toward nuclear capability, when Hamas and Hezbollah are actively attacking Israel, and when the global West is questioning its resolve, the United States must stand not with dictatorships cloaked in dollar signs, but with democracies that share our values.
That means clear, unflinching support for Israel, moral leadership in the world, and vigilance against regimes that bankroll terror with one hand and sign investment deals with the other.
Conclusion: We Must Not Forget
As we watch world leaders embrace regimes with blood on their hands, we echo Levin’s passion—even when we don’t fully share his politics. There is no lasting peace without truth. No true alliance without accountability.
We call on our community to:
- Pray for the victims of 9/11 and their families, whose pain must not be buried beneath diplomatic fanfare.
- Hold leaders accountable when they make alliances that contradict our values.
- Speak boldly in defense of truth, justice, and the eternal bond between America, Israel, and the Judeo-Christian foundations of our civilization.
Never forget. Never compromise. Always stand for what is right.