Under a blaze of lights, Donald Trump steps to the podium. The flags of the United States, Israel, and several Arab nations stand behind him.
He grips the lectern.
“People have been saying it for a long time,” he begins. “They said it when we rebuilt alliances. They said it when we stood up to chaos. They said it when we made peace deals nobody thought were possible. They said, ‘Maybe he’s the Chosen One.’”
He pauses, letting the crowd react.
“I don’t say that lightly. I say this: I was chosen by the American people to be strong. Chosen to protect our friends. Chosen to make sure that the United States, Israel, and our Arab partners stand together — not divided, not weak, not apologizing.”
He gestures toward the flags.
“For too long, the enemies of stability have threatened the region. They chant, they posture, they test missiles, they try to divide us. But we don’t divide. We unite. And when we unite, nobody can touch us.”
From the side of the stage, impeccably dressed and wearing an almost theatrical smile, Patrick Bateman watches, amused.
Bateman leans toward a microphone backstage, his tone silk-smooth.
“Tell them about strength,” he says. “Tell them about dominance. They love dominance.”
Trump smirks.
“We believe in peace through strength,” Trump continues. “Not weakness. Not endless wars. Strength. Economic strength. Military strength. Moral clarity. When America stands with Israel and our Arab partners, when we say there will be no nuclear weapons, no terror, no threats to our allies — we mean it.”
Bateman nods approvingly, almost whispering, “That’s power. Absolute confidence.”
Trump raises a hand.
“We don’t seek destruction. We seek security. We seek prosperity. But let me be very clear — if you threaten our allies, if you threaten the United States, we will respond decisively. Not recklessly. Decisively.”
The crowd roars.
“I was elected to defend our people and our friends. And when history looks back, they’ll say this was the moment the United States and its partners stood together and said: enough. No more chaos. No more intimidation. Just strength, unity, and victory for peace.”
Bateman gives a slow clap from the wings.
“Now that,” he murmurs, “is a headline.”