If you study history closely, you begin to understand the future, because patterns repeat themselves.

What Donald Trump is doing today is not happening in a vacuum. He is acting to protect the United States, to safeguard the broader world, and certainly to defend Israel against one of the most dangerous forces in modern geopolitics, the regime in Iran.

Naturally, there is opposition. There are voices in government, in the Senate, and in Congress pushing back, which surprises many. But history shows us this is nothing new.

Go back to 1947 to 1948. The United States was led by Harry S. Truman, a man faced with a historic decision, whether to support the establishment of the State of Israel. His choice shaped history. Without that support, Israel may not have come into existence.

Truman was under immense pressure. He was warned that supporting Israel might cost him reelection. Even George C. Marshall, his Secretary of State, threatened to withdraw political support. Truman had to decide whether to pursue truth and moral clarity or prioritize political safety. He chose the right side of history, putting truth above his own election.

Immediately after independence, Israel faced a coordinated invasion from surrounding Arab nations. This came just years after the Holocaust, when many of Israel’s residents were survivors. The young state had roughly 30,000 soldiers, while vastly larger, better equipped armies attacked from multiple fronts.

At that critical moment, Truman again faced a defining choice. Despite intense opposition, including from Marshall, he chose a different path. Guided by conviction and moral clarity, he supported Israel and enabled it to defend itself. That decision was pivotal.

Without Truman, Israel’s survival in those early days would have been far from certain.

Today, many see a parallel. President Trump, despite criticism from both political sides and resistance from parts of the international community, has taken a firm stance in confronting threats and aligning with Israel’s security. Similarly, some argue that midterm elections or political comfort should temper action, yet Trump, like Truman, chooses the path of principle.

And just as Truman had a trusted friend, Eddie Jacobson, Trump has confidants like Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka, people whose counsel reinforces that enduring truth. Leadership in both eras meant choosing the right side of history, regardless of personal political cost.