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

President Donald Trump’s second inauguration January 20, 2025 coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a celebration of the civil rights leader’s legacy. While the King and Trump may seem politically distant, there is an interesting, often overlooked connection between their views on peace — especially economic cooperation as a means of stability in the Middle East.

In the year In 1966, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proposed a new path to peace in the Middle East – not through military force or political negotiations, but through economic cooperation. Amid the division of the region, King focused on religious tourism, especially Christian pilgrimages, to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between Jews and Arabs.

As I point out in my book Shared Dreams: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jewish Community, King’s approach to peace is rooted in the belief that lasting change comes not from force but from the economic incentives of cooperation. King understood that the Middle East’s political discord could be resolved by creating an opportunity for Israelis and Arabs to work together—an idea that was at the time. In the year In 1966, he proposed sending 5,000 American Christians on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, encouraging them to visit holy sites in Israel and the Arab world. King’s goal was to build bridges between these communities, promoting economic growth and cultural exchange.

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King believed that economic cooperation could transcend political and religious differences. His plan was to encourage American Christians to visit holy sites in Israel and the Arab world 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 between the Israeli and Jordanian parts of Jerusalem. Both countries have expressed their interest in the economic capacity of the project. The king proposed building an amphitheater on the Sea of ​​Galilee to convey a message of peace and unity.

The economic benefits were clear: religious tourism creates jobs, boosts local economies, and most importantly, serves as a bridge to peace between Arabs and Jews. The King’s vision was not just about diplomacy – it was about creating an economic infrastructure that would bring people together. As Young recalls, King believed the pilgrimage showed “how much there is to be gained by all working together.”

Unfortunately, the king’s vision could not be realized. In the year The outbreak of the Six Day War in 1967 threw the region into chaos and destroyed any hope for his initiative. Although the King’s plan for peace through economic cooperation was stopped short due to the geopolitical realities of the time, 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 policies echo King’s original vision. In the year Trump’s “Peace Through Prosperity” strategy, introduced in 2018, emphasizes economic cooperation as the foundation of peace.

In the year With the Abraham Accords signed in 2020, Trump successfully moderated relations between Israel and several Arab countries. These agreements exemplified Trump’s belief that peace can be achieved not only through political agreements but also through economic incentives – trade deals, investments and working together in sectors such as technology, energy and tourism.

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Last Wednesday, Trump said he would use the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal to expand the Abraham Accords. The agreement laid the foundation for economic cooperation, but more needs to be done to create lasting peace. King’s vision called for deeper, more inclusive economic cooperation that reached beyond political normalcy, and Trump’s approach, though influential, remains to be seen. True peace in the Middle East requires not only political agreements, but also deep and sustainable economic partnerships that promote long-term stability and shared prosperity.

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As President Trump begins his second term in office, the journey to peace is far from over. The Middle East still needs continued economic cooperation and Trump should continue to promote the King’s “prosperity by prosperity” principles. The Abrahamic Accords have laid the foundation, but real peace will come from expanding these economic ties and building lasting structures of cooperation that go beyond short-term political compromises.

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