The Free Press
The Free Press Forum Is Here
ForumNewslettersSign InSubscribe
Trump’s Plan to Make Gaza Great Again
World leaders applaud as President Donald Trump holds a signing founding charter at the “Board of Peace” meeting during the World Economic Forum on January 22.(Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
He’s counting on the power of positive thinking to bring peace to the Holy Land. Good luck with that.
By Eli Lake
01.23.26 — U.S. Politics
--:--
--:--
Upgrade to Listen
Produced by ElevenLabs using AI narration
102
53

If you want to understand the philosophy behind Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace and his vision for a “Gaza-Lago” resort city in a rebuilt war zone, no political or historical tract will be helpful. To understand Trump’s gambit to end the enduring war between Israel and the Palestinians, you’ll need Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking.

Peale’s text, which Trump has credited as a major inspiration for his personal philosophy, helps explain the wildly optimistic vision for the decimated Gaza Strip that the president unveiled Thursday at Davos. As Peale writes, “When you embrace the power of positive thinking, you unlock a world of infinite potential.”

Subscribe to Unlock This Story
Support fearless journalism and unlock all of The Free Press—your first week is on us.
Annual
$8.33/month
Billed as $100 yearly
Save $20!
Monthly
$10/month
Billed as $10 monthly
Already have an account?
Sign In
To read this article, sign in or start your free trial
Eli Lake
Eli Lake is the host of Breaking History, a new history podcast from The Free Press. A veteran journalist with expertise in foreign affairs and national security, Eli has reported for Bloomberg, The Daily Beast, and Newsweek. With Breaking History, he brings his sharp analysis and storytelling skills to uncover the connections between today’s events and pivotal moments in the past.
Tags:
Donald Trump
Israel
Diplomacy
Gaza
Hamas
Comments
Join the conversation
Share your thoughts and connect with other readers by becoming a paid subscriber!
Already a paid subscriber? Sign in

No posts

For Free People.
LatestSearchAboutCareersForumShopPodcastsVideoEvents
Download the app
Download on the Google Play Store
©2026 The Free Press. All Rights Reserved.Powered by Substack.
Privacy∙Terms∙Collection notice