The Middle East has been America’s favorite geopolitical headache for decades — ripe with oil, unrest, and endless entanglements.
From hostage crises to full-blown wars, every U.S. president since World War II has had to wrestle with the region’s chaos.
Right now, Polymarket traders think there’s a better than 40% chance we strike Iran by the end of the month. That could change, of course, but:
Some tried diplomacy. Others sent missiles. And a few just made it worse. Here’s how each commander-in-chief handled the heat.
Harry Truman (1945-1953)
Recognized Israel in 1948 — fast, controversial, and decisive. Sparked long-term tension with Arab nations but set the tone for unwavering U.S.-Israel relations. Also began American involvement in oil diplomacy across the region.
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961)
Preached stability but flexed muscle. Ended the Suez Crisis by strong-arming Britain, France, and Israel. First to frame Middle East intervention as Cold War containment (see: Eisenhower Doctrine).
John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
Short tenure, limited impact, but began quietly backing Israel’s arms buildup and nudged Arab states to stay neutral in the Cold War — partly to prevent Soviet influence.
Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
Full-throated support for Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. Alienated Arab allies and ramped up U.S. arms sales to Tel Aviv. Looked the other way on nuclear weapons development.
Richard Nixon (1969-1974)
His administration airlifted military aid to Israel during the Yom Kippur War — triggering the Arab oil embargo and a massive energy crisis. Also secretly cultivated ties with Iran’s Shah as a regional anchor.
Gerald Ford (1974-1977)
Oversaw post-oil-shock diplomacy. Signed Sinai Interim Agreement, calming Egypt-Israel tensions. Nothing flashy, but played cleanup after Nixon’s Mideast mess.
Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
Brokered the Camp David Accords — one of the few actual peace deals in the region. But the Iran hostage crisis overshadowed it and ultimately cost him reelection.
Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)
Said “peace through strength” but meant “send Marines.” Bombed Libya, backed Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, and fled Lebanon after the Beirut barracks bombing. Also got tangled in the Iran-Contra affair.
George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
Launched Operation Desert Storm. Built a global coalition to kick Saddam out of Kuwait. Didn’t invade Baghdad — critics call it restraint, others say unfinished business.
Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
Tried for peace. Got Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin to shake hands. Later watched the Oslo Accords and Camp David II collapse. Bombed Iraq in 1998. Balanced charm with cruise missiles.
George W. Bush (2001-2009)
The big one. Invaded Afghanistan after 9/11, then pivoted to Iraq in 2003 with flimsy WMD claims. Sparked decades of war, regime change, and regional destabilization.
Barack Obama (2009-2017)
Pulled out of Iraq, surged in Afghanistan. Backed Arab Spring uprisings, took out Gaddafi in Libya, and hesitated on Syria. Signed the Iran nuclear deal — then watched the region get messier anyway.
Donald Trump (2017-2021)
Ditched the Iran deal, droned Soleimani, and brokered the Abraham Accords. Moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. Called it peace through strength, others called it gasoline on a fire.
Joe Biden (2021-2025)
Tried to pivot away from the Middle East but got dragged back in. Reentered talks with Iran, backed Israel in Gaza, and navigated the fallout from the Afghanistan withdrawal and renewed regional escalations.
