The Art of the Steal: The Great Betrayal & Abandonment

James F. Gauss

June 18, 2026

My Disclosure: I am not a military veteran or strategist. The closest I came to the military was two years in army ROTC in college and having a decorated World War II veteran as a stepfather.

I am not a MAGA Trump supporter, although I voted for him three times. However, I have followed Donald Trump’s career on and off since the 1960s and must say that he has never given me any reason to trust him.

NOTE: Check Updates at the end of this Post.

So, what has happened to Donald J. Trump, our 47^th president? Some, including myself, are speculating that something undisclosed transpired between him and President Xi Jinping during Trump’s May 13-15 visit to China (pure speculation, no proof). Since then, it seems that he has lost his perspective of who the enemy is in the Middle East. In a June 1 phone conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu he expressed much anger with Israel’s PM. In the conversation Trump cursed out the Prime Minister telling him he was “f—ing crazy”, that nobody liked him and that he would be in prison if it were not for him (Trump). The President also had the audacity to tell Netanyahu that, “Without me there would be no Israel.”

Sorry, Mr. President, but you did not establish the nation of Israel, God did. You have no authority over Israel, God does. You do not get to determine the destiny of Israel, God does.

Apostle Paul wrote about the latter days. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

I am going to put something forth that might irritate or anger a lot of people. There is no doubt that President Trump gives every indication that he loves America and has made some significant improvements for the better. On the world stage, he has been less impressive. Remember during his 1^st administration and this current one how he referred to many of the world’s tyrannical leaders as his “friends” or “good guys”? They included Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un (North Korea), Rodrigo Duterte (Philippines’ brutal leader), Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi (Egypt), Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Turkey), and Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani (Qatar).

I do not have the time and space to detail all the risks and concerns here. Let it suffice to say none of these men are lovers of the United States and Russia, China and North Korea are bent on overcoming the United States at some point.  The leaders of Turkey, Egypt and Qatar are devout and radical Muslims who seek the same things that Iran does. The Al Thani family of Qatar has poured millions into U.S. education (high schools and colleges) to indoctrinate our children on the blessings of Islam. Qatar and Saudi Arabia provide millions to train U.S. teachers on the benefits of Islam and have even overseen the publication of our history and civics texts to make sure they are favorable to Islam. Every year those two radical Islamic nations pour millions into our nation’s largest and most prestigious colleges and universities to influence and indoctrinate professors and students with Islamic teaching.

Qatar is the richest per capita nation in the Middle East, and it should be noted that President Trump, his family and the Trump Organization have multi-billion-dollar real estate investments there. Most notable is the Trump International Golf Club and luxury villas on Qatar’s east coast. See any conflict of interest here? But I digress.

Now, I am not saying that President Trump desires to be a dictator, but money is King with him. I just find it extremely odd that he casts such accolades upon some of the world’s most despicable leaders of non-free nations, yet curses Netanyahu, the leader of the only free nation in the Middle East.

Is it possible that in cursing Israel’s leader and putting himself above God in determining Israel’s destiny, that our president has been disserted by God? That God gave him the chance to repent of his pride and arrogance, but it only got worse. Now maybe God is saying, “I spared your life twice, yet you still elevate yourself above Me. You are now on your own. I hate pride and arrogance. You have My blessing no more.” I am not proclaiming this to be true, just pondering the possibility.

Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

The Much-Ballyhooed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The majority of the secular press are in support of President Trump’s MOU success. Afterall, it has the promise of much needed oil from the Middle East flowing again, bringing down oil and gas prices and thus the threat of continued inflation. No one is excited about the higher cost of living or a higher cost of doing business. So, on the surface it seems like a major win for the world’s major players and economies.

However, war and victory are not about making deals with the enemy, it’s about total victory and a vanquished enemy that threatens mankind. We clearly understood that in WWII but have long forgotten it. Remember God’s command to Joshua. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9). Where are the Washingtons, Grants, Eisenhowers, Pattons and MacArthurs of yesteryear? Men who saw the enemy clearly, knew the task needed for victory and accomplished it.

Can you imagine where we as nation would be today if General George Washington asked the defeated British General Charles Cornwallis, “Now tell me Charlie what is it you want from us to stop this silly war? We’re open to anything, just stop the fighting.”

Or, how about Generals Eisenhower and Patton marching into Berlin at the end of World War II and saying, “Look Adolph, you’ve made a mess of things and killed millions of people, but we’ll let you off the hook if you just let us know what we can give you to make you quit.”

Sounds ridiculous, right? But Trump’s deal is even more unbelievable and dangerous. It is complete surrender to the evils of Islam and the Islamic ideology of hate and world conquest. President Trump has clearly telegraphed to the Islamic world and other despots, that America is weak and feckless and has no stomach for victory. Yes, we destroyed a lot of buildings, slowed down their nuclear program and annihilated their key leaders, but Iran believes they have won because we failed to complete the job. Victory is not won on paper or through negotiations (especially with Islamic liars), but on the battlefield. Israel understands that, the United States does not.

We and our leaders throughout the West fail to remember and understand, that Iran’s leaders, unlike other world leaders have an apocalyptic view of life and the world. They believe they are called by their god, Allah, to usher in the return of the 12^th Imam or Muhammad al-Mahdi who will return from centuries of hiding for the worldwide military battle of Armageddon proportions. They believe the clash will be against the Zionists Jews, Trinitarian Christians and Far Eastern Orientals and that it is foretold in the Qur’an (surah 21:95-98). Current Iranian leaders believe this is the time and believe they are to develop the nuclear capability to assist the Mahdi in his return.

So, this MOU is not as cut and dry as one might think. The Iranian leaders see it as a short pause to allow them to regroup and continue to move forward with their objective.

But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

2 Timothy 3:13

The Steal of the Deal. For President Donald Trump it is all about “The Deal.” In the mind of world leaders and especially in the Muslim Middle East, the only thing the MOU settles is that America is weak and did not have the will or tenacity to finish off the Iranian despots. For the Iranian murderous tyrants this is seen as complete victory over the Great Satan, America. This will only embolden their future plans regardless of what they agree to on paper.

It is interesting that the Muslim terrorist nation of Pakistan had a major hand in the MOU’s development. It is also interesting and problematic that our lawmakers were not permitted to know what was in it. The real problem and disaster is that Israel was barred from any part in its development, negotiation or drafting and was forbidden from seeing it until it was disclosed to the public on June 17, 2026. Where were MOU’s 14-points first published? In Saudi Arabia by the English version of the Saudi owned newspaper, Al Arabiya.

Wait a minute, you might say. Wasn’t this war mainly between Israel and Iran? Why should outside parties, mostly anti-Israel parties, other than the U.S. have control over what Israel can live with? Good point. Would Americans have welcomed Germany’s or Japan’s dictation of their surrender or accept those enemy nations dictating what Americans should give up to have peace? Of course not. Ridiculous. That is not how wars are fought or won. However, that is exactly what President Trump’s MOU has done. It will not last or end well for Israel and the United States.

What is a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)? Is it binding or worth the paper it’s on? Perhaps the best way to understand a MOU is to consider what a firm handshake used to signify. Decades ago, when two parties, usually men, made a firm handshake on an agreement, it was considered a “good faith” promise to follow through on an agreed upon idea or procedure to move forward. It was not a signed contract, just an affirmation that two people agreed and promised to follow through in its implementation of what was agreed upon. To violate that handshake promise was highly frowned upon and would be a disgrace for the violator. In today’s culture, at least in the United States and certainly in Islamic law and culture, a “handshake”, vis-à-vis MOU, means essentially nothing and is not binding on either party.

Once again, it is notable that Israel, the key part of the whole conflict, was forbidden by President Trump from participating in any part of the MOU or to have knowledge of its content.

The 14-point MOU. Reported by Newsmax, CNN and other media on June 17. The addition of “FAVORS IRAN” is this author’s assessment. Remember that on March 6 of this year President Trump proclaimed that the only agreement with Iran would be “unconditional surrender.” Now, see who surrendered.

1. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, together with their allies in the current war, declare upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and undertake that from now on they will not launch any hostile action against each other, and will refrain from the threat or use of force against each other. The final agreement will confirm the provisions of this Article and the remaining Articles. FAVORS IRAN

Wait a minute. Where’s Israel in this agreement? Are they assumed to be among the nebulous “allies”? Is not this war between Israel and Iran with the United States as Israel’s ally? The ink was not even dry on the MOU when Hezbollah shot more rockets into northern Israel.

2. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs. FAVORS IRAN

Again, what’s going on here? Iran and the United States are to “respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs”? What happened to Israel? Where are they in this nefarious agreement?

3. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States undertake to negotiate and reach a final agreement within a maximum period of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent. FAVORS IRAN.

Again, it is all about Iran and the United States. Where is Israel in this process? What guarantees do they have for anything?

4. Immediately upon the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, the United States will lift the naval blockade and prevent any interference or obstruction against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and restore traffic within a maximum of 30 days to its full capacity; the traffic of ships shall be proportional to the pre-war volume of traffic on the part of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States also undertakes to withdraw its forces from the surrounding areas within 30 days after the final agreement. FAVORS IRAN

Who started the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz? Who laid thousands of anti-ship mines throughout the Strait? Who shelled, rocketed and targeted hundreds of oil tankers and U.S. military ships with armed drones? Was it not Iran? Should they not be responsible for removing all mines and military batteries along the Strait and commit to the free passage of all shipping BEFORE we lift any blockade? Seems like common sense to me.

5. Upon signing this Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately take steps to ensure that the movement of merchant ships from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of ​​Oman and vice versa is resumed within 30 days to the pre-war volume, taking into account the need for the removal of technical obstacles and the neutralization of mines by Iran. FAVORS IRAN

Again, this should be achieved before number 4 is implemented.

6. The United States undertakes, together with its regional partners, to create a comprehensive plan agreed upon by both parties for the rehabilitation and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran, While ensuring financing of at least $300 billion. The implementation mechanism of this plan, as part of the final agreement, will be formulated within 60 days. FAVORS IRAN

This is a mind-boggler. This was one of Iran’s major demands. The vanquished gets to dictate that the victor is responsible for rebuilding what was destroyed because they refused to surrender or give up on their aggression toward Israel and Arab nations. Only the Western mind sees the “justification” in this. Notice, no mention of where this money will come from, although it’s presumed that greedy investors (individuals, companies and nations) will rush in to capture Iran’s oil wealth and 90 million Iranians clamoring for Western goods they do not have a penny to buy. Who is going to rebuild Israel? Who destroyed it?

7. The United States commits to ending, on a schedule to be agreed upon as part of the final agreement, all types of sanctions currently facing the Islamic Republic of Iran, including resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and all unilateral U.S. sanctions, both primary and secondary. FAVORS IRAN

Wake up America. Iran and its despotic leaders have had a 47-year history of expert deception of the West. They have not changed their stripes, mindset or ideology. If Iranian leaders were interested in prosperity for their nation and people, it was there when they took over and they destroyed it. They have had billions in oil revenue over the years and turned their nation into a financial desert. They are interested in one thing only and will use every penny they receive to rebuild their diabolical military might.

8. The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates that it will never produce nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States have agreed that the fate of enriched material and the fate of all other mutually agreed nuclear-related issues, including Iran’s nuclear needs, will be adequately addressed in a final agreement; the final agreement will confirm the provisions of this Article. FAVORS IRAN

Balderdash! Hogwash! For the younger folk, this is a complete fabrication of wishful thinking by ignorant and deceived Western leaders who clearly have no clue who they are dealing with.

9. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree that, pending a final agreement, they will maintain the status quo: Iran will maintain the status quo on its nuclear program, and the United States will not impose new sanctions on Iran or strengthen its forces in the region. FAVORS IRAN

This is clearly a one-sided can-of-worms. Iranian leaders are masters of deception and U.S. leaders tend to be woefully optimistic with rose colored glasses that Iran’s evil, anti-Isarel, anti-Christ leaders will have an epiphany that will bring them into the fold of civilized people. Will not happen—EVER!

10. The United States undertakes that immediately after the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, and until the date of the lifting of sanctions, the United States Treasury Department will issue waivers for exports of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and their derivatives, and all related services, including banking, insurance, transportation, and the like. FAVORS IRAN

Why not just give the key to the U.S. Treasury and the U.S. taxpayers’ wallets? This is ludicrous and aiding and abetting the enemy.

11. The United States undertakes that, in light of the progress of negotiations towards a final agreement, frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be released and made fully available. These funds, whether held in the master account or transferred, will be used for any final beneficiary payment determined by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran and will be fully available for use. The United States undertakes to issue all necessary permits and licenses on this basis. FAVORS IRAN

So far, we are through the first eleven points of the MOU. Who won this war? IT looks like the United States is surrendering and providing every possible financial resource to restore the Evil Empire. What’s your opinion?

12. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States agree that an implementation mechanism will be established to oversee the successful implementation of and future commitment to the Final Agreement.

History shows that any such overseeing of an “agreement” with Iran is fruitless and non-productive.

13. Following the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, and upon receipt of assurances regarding the commencement of implementation of Articles 4, 5, 10, and 11 of this Memorandum of Understanding, and the continued implementation of these steps, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States will enter into negotiations for a Final Agreement solely with respect to the remaining Articles. FAVORS IRAN

Get ready for the violations, stalls, an extensions that push the ball further down the court and in favor of the home team to rebuild their war material and nuclear fusion.

14. The final agreement will be approved through a binding resolution of the UN Security Council. FAVORS IRAN

Whoopee! And who sits on the UN Security Council right now? China and Russia are permanent members. Pakistan who helped draft the MOU. The Muslim nations of Somalia and Bahrain; and the spineless, do nothing nations of France and the United Kingdom.

Oh, and while President Trump was putting together the MOU his administration secretly approved a deal between Qatar and Iran that would allow Qatar to funnel billions of dollars to Iran’s despotic leaders in exchange for the safe passage of Qatar tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Summary: Betrayed and Abandoned.

Big Winner? Iran. Iranian officials are openly proclaiming victory over the Great Satan, saying that President Trump caved in to their demands. America is now seen as weak and ineffective in the Muslim world. This will likely open a Pandora’s Box of Islamic terrorists at home and abroad for Americans and other Westerners. On June 18, the day after the MOU was released to the public, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, declared that Iran had defeated two nuclear powers (Israel and the United States) and was now a “Superpower.” Has Iran been defeated? No, just emboldened by our surrender.

Big Loser? Israel. Israel and its leadership have been kept out of the entire process of the MOU/surrender and feel betrayed by their closest ally in the world. Where do we go from here? Who will trust the United States in the future? Who will help restore Israel and stand with them in the future? Is the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 on the horizon?

Real Big Loser? The Iranian people who yearn to be set free,

On February 28, 2026, President Trump made this promise to the freedom-seeking people of Iran and the world:

For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We’re going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they are sometimes called, to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon. . ..

For many years, you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny, and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.

Over three months later, what has transpired? Will the Iranian leaders and the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) refrain from the massacre of their fellow Iranians? Not likely. IT has been variously reported that they readily slaughtered 40-70,000 fellow Iranians in just a few days before the war began just because they protested against the oppression by their leaders.

A week before the MOU was released, it was reported from Armenia that young Iranian women were being taken into custody by the IRGC in Iran, and raped, tortured and then murdered and their beautiful hair and body parts sold on the black market. This is horrific, but demonstrates the cruelty and demonic mindset of Iran’s leaders and IRGC members.

PRAY FOR THE IRANIAN PEOPLE!

PRAY FOR ISRAEL!

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH!

PRAY FOR AMERICA!

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Update (June 19, 2026): Breaking: US Brokers Lebanon Ceasefire After Escalation Derails Peace Talks with Iran

Update (June 19, 2026): US and Iran delay nuclear talks as Lebanon clashes worsen

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James F. Gauss is the author of Israel and the Middle East: Will there ever be peace? (2026 Edition) and other books on Islam. Check out his books on Amazon.