Obama acknowledged the need to cooperate with Sisi against terrorists, but he kept him at arm’s length, for two reasons: first, due to human rights concerns; and second, because we don’t want to be associated too closely with Sisi if and when he fails. Trump has no such qualms. To Trump, the Middle East is a simple place: the problems are instability and terrorism; the good guys are strong men; and the bad guys are anyone who wants to change the status quo.
Leaving aside the message this sends about American values, the fact of the matter is that blindly supporting strong men isn’t going to work. What happens if there is a real revolution in Egypt? Are we going to send American troops to shoot at the crowds in order to keep Sisi in power? Are we going to call on the Russians to help us?
American public opinion would react violently to that scenario, but, if Trump has the courage of his convictions, it could happen.