WarSclerotic

Washington’s brutal week has been quite challenging for reporters, too, who found it difficult to keep up with the fast-paced news cycle. Since the dismissal of FBI Director James Comey on May 9, controversy after controversy have cropped up at dizzying speed. This whole mess occurred just days before U.S. President Donald Trump was to embark on his first presidential trip abroad — a trip he characterized as “critical.”

Last Wednesday, I was informed that I had been granted an exclusive interview with the president in the Oval Office. A snafu involving my clearance resulted in me having to wait a long time, but ultimately, somehow, I was permitted to sit down with the president.

I arrived and waited patiently next to the Oval Office. I had already taken my notepad out when one of Trump’s secretaries came out and informed me with a sheepish expression that the interview had been canceled. A quick glance at my phone revealed the reason for the cancelation: A news report that the Justice Department had hired former FBI Director Robert Mueller to be a special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s suspected involvement in U.S. elections.

I left the White House feeling more disappointed than I have in years. Think about it: I was outside the Oval Office’s door only to be turned away at the last minute. But the week had been so insane that even Trump’s adviser Kellyanne Conway canceled an important interview on Fox News, indicating that the administration was truly under stress.

However, several hours later, I was told that despite the president’s extremely tight schedule, he would make time to welcome me at the Oval Office the following day, following a press conference with his Colombian counterpart. Countless reporters were planning to attend that press conference, including me, not because of the historic peace treaty in Colombia but rather in anticipation of a new twist along the lines of the Comey-Russia reports.

Trump’s fighting spirit during the press conference carried over to his interview with me. He seemed self assured and unfazed by the talk of possible impeachment efforts.

Trump apologized for not having a lot of time, saying, “I can’t believe I’m sitting down with you, Boaz. Do you realize how many things I have going on this week? But I promised you an interview before my trip to Israel so I’m going to keep my word. Right? Did you see that I smiled at you during the press conference?”

This was not the first time that he reminded me that he is a man of his word. Shortly before Trump was sworn in as president, when I reminded him that as a candidate he had promised to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he told me that he was not a man who breaks promises. But last week, when I asked him why he was reluctant to follow through on said promise, he dismissed my question, saying it was not the time to discuss it. “We have some very interesting things in the works. We have some very, very interesting things in the works. We will be talking about that in the future,” Trump said.

“Friedman is a dealmaker”

I asked him whether he suspected that the string of damning reports over the last several days was part of an orchestrated onslaught.

“I don’t know what it is, Boaz, but it is really too bad,” he replied, accusing the media of milking the stories surrounding Comey and Russia.

“They used this as an excuse … and it is ridiculous,” he said.

Trump made it clear that he will continue working toward the goals he was elected to achieve: improving the economy and making America great again. “Our country is doing really well since the election, since the victory. They call it the Trump bump. Despite distractions it is really doing well.”

I asked him whether his meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Jordanian king and the Egyptian president had perhaps dissuaded him from seeking a regional peace agreement. “I think there is a very great possibility that we can make a deal,” was his response.

He explained that he was confident in his administration’s ability to strike a deal thanks mainly to what he called his winning team. “[U.S. Ambassador to Israel] David Friedman is our ambassador, he is a great, great dealmaker … that is who he is — a great dealmaker. [United States Special Representative for International Negotiations] Jason Greenblatt, who you probably know. That combination, plus all of the other people — I think we have a very, very good chance of making a deal.”

I told him that after his press conference with the Colombian president, and the peace treaty that was achieved, I was jealous. I asked him whether he thought the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was different, and whether he felt it was more religious or territorial.

“Probably a combination of both. I think it is going to be solved and we are going to have a deal,” he said.

I asked whether his optimistic outlook on the prospects of peace would include any kind of restrictions on Israeli construction beyond the Green Line.

“I don’t want to comment on that other than the fact that I truly believe we will make a deal,” he replied.

Trump is a warm man. He is very different than the image portrayed by the American media. When I arrived in Washington at the beginning of last week, the media reported that Trump’s credibility in the eyes of the American public was the lowest of any American president since Richard Nixon or Lyndon Johnson. But the media forgot that many Democrats in Congress were also seeing negative credibility numbers.

During the interview, which has a limited time allotment, I lost precious minutes when Trump wanted to go off the record for a little background chat. The chat turned out to be even more interesting than the interview itself, and it became apparent that he really loves Israel and wants what’s best for us.

It was also apparent that his relationship with Netanyahu is warm. He gets along with the Israeli leader and respects him.

When I asked him about the reports that during his visit, he planned to forgo being accompanied by Israeli officials to the Western Wall in an effort to avoid controversy, he explained that he did not rule out the possibility of being joined by Netanyahu.

“While a final decision has not been made, we have great respect and friendship for Netanyahu; going with the rabbi [Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch] is more traditional, but that could change,” he said.

Trump said he couldn’t understand how his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, put his money on Iran at the expense of Saudi Arabia. He vowed to rectify that wrong during his visit to the region.

At a certain point during our interview, Trump invited his son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner into the room. Trump has tasked Kushner with overseeing the White House’s immense efforts to ensure that shared interests between the U.S. and the Middle East guide the regional agenda and that Iran is restored to the evil side of the equation in a way that will enable the sides to reach a deal. In short: the opposite of Obama’s policies.

I asked Trump whether he had a message for the Israeli public ahead of his historic visit. He did not hesitate for a second before saying, “I love the people of Israel, I am working very hard to finally have peace for the people of Israel and the Palestinians and hopefully that can come about much sooner than anybody has ever projected. It is a tremendous possibility. It is good for all. This is a deal that is good for all. And I would consider it one of my crowning achievements if I can do it. We have the right people on it, too.”

When I bid Trump farewell, I reminded him that the next time we meet will be in Israel. We have already met in Washington, in Las Vegas, in Florida, in New York and twice in the Oval Office.

“Goodbye, thank you, and have a great trip, Mr. President.”

“See you in Israel, Boaz,” he answered with the friendly smile of an acquaintance who has turned into a good friend.