Frances Barber says she had ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ as she praises POTUS for Gaza peace deal

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: British actress Frances Barber has publicly walked back her past criticism of Donald Trump, saying she’s gained new respect for the US president following his role in brokering the historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The 'Doctor Who' star, known for her outspoken political opinions, stunned followers on X when she admitted to having what she called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

“I had TDS and I’m now eating my words,” Barber wrote on Monday, pairing her post with an image thanking Trump for helping secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Frances Barber calls Trump’s peace deal ‘deeply moving’

Barber, 67, said she was “deeply moved” by the developments in the Middle East, where Israeli officials confirmed Monday that all surviving hostages had been released after more than two years in captivity. The prisoner exchange, she said, marked a turning point that deserved recognition regardless of political allegiance.

In a separate post on Sunday, Barber wrote that the moment had “restored her faith in diplomacy,” referencing reports that the ceasefire agreement was directly influenced by Trump’s intervention.

“I may not agree with everything he says or does,” she added, “But what he achieved here cannot be ignored.”

Trump credited for brokering Israel-Hamas ceasefire

The deal, described by officials as a '20-point peace plan', saw Hamas release the final 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for Israel freeing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a move aimed at paving the way for reconstruction and stability in Gaza.

Israeli sources credited Trump’s direct diplomatic involvement for bringing both sides to the table, leveraging relationships formed during his first term in office. 

Officials also confirmed that four of the 28 presumed dead hostages had been recovered and returned to Israel.

Frances Barber's surprising political turnaround

Barber’s shift in tone marks a remarkable turnaround for the actress, who had previously been a vocal critic of Trump’s presidency and his association with conservative strategist Steve Bannon.

Her earlier posts frequently condemned Trump’s policies and legal troubles, aligning with many in Britain’s entertainment industry who opposed him.

But her recent praise suggests a softening of stance among some of Trump’s fiercest detractors in light of his Middle East success. “Perhaps we’ve underestimated him,” Barber wrote in another reply. “Sometimes, results speak louder than rhetoric.”

Trump’s 'signature achievement' in Middle East

The Gaza ceasefire agreement has been hailed as one of Trump’s defining foreign policy achievements since returning to office.

In his address to the Knesset earlier this week, Trump said the deal represented “a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put old feuds behind us.”

“This is not about politics,” he said. “It’s about peace, humanity, and the future of our children.”