President Trump continues Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy as he works to bring peace to the Middle East

President Donald Trump’s second term inauguration on January 20, 2025 will coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time to honor the civil rights leader’s legacy. Although King and Trump may seem politically distant, there is an intriguing, often overlooked connection between their views on peace — particularly through economic cooperation as a path to stability in the Middle East.

In 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. an innovative path to peace in the Middle East – not through military force or political negotiations, but through economic cooperation. Amid the region’s divisions, King focused on religious tourism, especially Christian pilgrimages, as a way to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Jews and Arabs.

As I discuss in my book Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. & the Jewish Community, King’s approach to peace was rooted in the belief that lasting change could be achieved not through force, but through the economic incentives created by cooperative efforts. King understood that the Middle East’s political deadlock could be broken by creating opportunities for Israelis and Arabs to work together—an idea that was radical for its time. In 1966, he proposed sending 5,000 American Christians on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, encouraging them to visit holy sites in both Israel and the surrounding Arab nations. King’s goal was to build bridges between these communities, promote economic growth and cultural exchange.

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King believed that economic partnerships could transcend political and religious divides. His plan envisioned American Christians visiting holy sites in both Israel and Arab countries to promote economic activity and mutual understanding. In November 1966, King sent Andrew Young to Israel to negotiate with Israeli and Jordanian officials to open the Mandelbaum Gate, a restricted crossing between the Israeli and Jordanian parts of Jerusalem. Both nations expressed interest in the project’s economic potential. King also proposed building an amphitheater at the Sea of ​​Galilee to deliver a message of peace and unity.

The economic benefits were clear: religious tourism could create jobs, boost local economies and, most importantly, act as a bridge to peace between Arabs and Jews. King’s vision wasn’t just about diplomacy—it was about creating an economic infrastructure that would bring people together. As Young recalled, King believed the pilgrimage would show “how much everyone had to gain by working together.”

Unfortunately, King’s vision was never realized. The outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967 disrupted the region and destroyed any hope of his initiative. King’s plan for peace through economic cooperation was stalled by the geopolitical realities of his time, but the concept of using economics as a tool for peace would influence future leaders.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and President Donald Trump’s Middle East policy echoes much of King’s original vision. Trump’s “peace through prosperity” strategy, introduced in 2018, emphasizes economic cooperation as the basis for peace.

Through the Abraham Accords signed in 2020, Trump successfully normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. These agreements exemplified Trump’s belief that peace could be promoted not only through political agreements, but through economic incentives – trade deals, investments and joint ventures in areas such as technology, energy and tourism.

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Last Wednesday, Trump said he would use the momentum from the Gaza ceasefire and the hostage deal to expand the Abraham accord. The agreements laid the groundwork for economic cooperation, but much more work is needed to create lasting peace. King’s vision called for deep, comprehensive economic cooperation that reached beyond political normalization, while Trump’s approach, while impactful, is still unfolding. True peace in the Middle East will require not just political agreements, but deeper, sustained economic partnerships that promote long-term stability and shared prosperity.

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As President Trump begins his second term, the journey toward peace is far from over. The Middle East still needs sustained economic cooperation, and Trump must continue to promote King’s “peace through prosperity” principles. The Abraham Accords have laid the groundwork, but true peace will come from expanding these economic ties and building lasting structures of cooperation that go beyond short-term political agreements.

To fully realize the promise of peace in the Middle East, President Trump must embrace and build on Dr. King’s vision for economic cooperation. While King’s vision was cut short by the harsh realities of his time, Trump’s “peace through prosperity” approach, particularly through the Abraham Accords, reflects the same fundamental belief: that economic cooperation—not just political agreements—can form the basis of lasting peace. This journey, rooted in mutual understanding, shared economic opportunity and long-term stability, is still unfolding. Only by expanding on King’s ideas can Trump’s policies reach their full potential, and only then will the region move closer to the lasting peace envisioned by both leaders.