Earlier today President Trump told a gaggle of reporters that the Houthis have decided to stop bombing American ships and others navigating the Red Sea and ancillary waterways. Trump gave Secretary of State Marco Rubio the orders to command the US military to stop attacks on Houthi positions in Yemen. Rubio has already issued the stand down orders and, based on what I’ve seen to this point, the US has ceased attacks in Yemen.

Meanwhile, conflicting reports indicate that members of the Houthi Political Council state their operations in the Red Sea and Israel will not cease until things are settled in Gaza.

Which is it? Trump is no dummy, but the Ayatollahs in Iran (who are calling the shots) are masters at deception and confusion. I’m sure Trump is aware of that. Perhaps he’s playing cat and mouse, but hopefully he is fully aware of the cat he’s mousing with! And let’s pray Steve Witkoff is just as savvy and not bought and sold by the Qataris.

Trump also posted on social media that a “very big announcement” is coming prior to his trip to Saudi Arabia. It leads us to believe the Saudis may be joining the Abraham Accords, which is the “big catch” Trump has sought since the inauguration of the Accords. Or perhaps it is something else. Either way, again let’s pray that Trump and his administration are fully clear-eyed in any agreement being made right now.

Keep in mind that according to Islamic doctrine, it is okay to lie if it serves the interests of Allah. (The Arabic term for it is taqiyya.) Here is my prayer as Trump navigates the tricky waters of the Middle East:

¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
~Matthew 10:16

Faithful warriors, it’s time to pray for wisdom of our leaders!