It’s been a remarkable week in global politics one that’s left many observers stunned. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has taken center stage once again, this time not as a disruptor, but as a peacemaker. His efforts to broker a historic truce between Israel and Hamas have reshaped the political conversation far beyond the Middle East.
But not everyone is celebrating for the right reasons. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has made a sudden dash to the region, hoping to align himself with Trump’s diplomatic victory. The move, however, has drawn sharp criticism most notably from Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel and a former Republican presidential candidate.
When asked about claims from Starmer’s team that Britain played a “key role” in securing the Gaza peace agreement, Huckabee didn’t mince words. His response was blunt and cutting: “Delusional.”
The remark came after UK Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson suggested that the Labour government’s behind-the-scenes diplomacy helped pave the way for the ceasefire. Huckabee, who was part of the actual U.S. delegation negotiating the deal, was quick to dismiss that claim as pure fantasy.
“I assure you she’s delusional,” Huckabee said. “She can thank Donald Trump anytime, just to set the record straight.”
That one word “delusional” has since gone viral across political circles, becoming a shorthand for what many critics see as Labour’s overreach and self-congratulation.
It’s not hard to see why the term resonates. The current UK government has faced intense backlash for a series of controversial decisions: cutting pensioners’ winter fuel payments, imposing VAT on private school fees (leading to school closures), and pushing ahead with an unpopular net-zero agenda while struggling to tackle illegal immigration.
With Labour’s approval rating now sitting at -61%, Starmer’s leadership appears to be in crisis mode. His attempt to seize a photo opportunity alongside Trump in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh is widely seen as an effort to reclaim lost credibility. But to many, it only highlights the contrast between a leader delivering results and one chasing relevance.
While Trump has often been criticized for his “America First” rhetoric, his role in facilitating an Israel-Hamas peace deal underscores his enduring influence on the global stage. Whether one supports him or not, it’s clear that Trump remains a force in international diplomacy a status that few Western leaders, including Starmer, can currently claim.
As the world watches this new chapter unfold, today’s images from the Middle East may tell a bigger story than any speech could: one of a leader acting decisively, and another struggling to keep up with history.
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