During a rally in New Hampshire, former President Trump accused his successor, Joe Biden, of forsaking Israel. Trump said that Biden deserted Israel and would have prevented the crimes he saw in Israel from happening if he had been president. Over 800 Israelis were killed, and over 100 were kidnapped in the attack by Hamas, backed by Iran. They were all returned to Gaza, which is now under Palestinian authority.
President Biden has denounced the strike multiple times and promised to make sure Israel has the means to defend itself.
Since Hamas militants launched the bloodiest attack on Israel in decades, Biden and his administration have been under fire from Republicans. Trump stressed that there is never a justification for terrorist actions and that the United States stands with the people of Israel in the face of terrible crimes. The Republican opposition, however, is focused on a $6 billion transfer to Iran, part of a complicated arrangement revealed by the Biden administration in September to free five American hostages in Iran. The Biden administration has responded to GOP criticism by claiming that the transferred monies have not yet been used. The Republicans say the pact and the money helped Hamas attack Israel.
Trump echoed his criticisms of Biden from his Saturday rally in Iowa. Less than four years ago, he said, the historic Abraham Accords brought peace to the Middle East. Trump claimed that as president, he “limited the Iranian economy” and “withdrew from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal,” and then blamed Biden for Iran’s support of Hamas’ attack on Israel. He promised to take a firm stance in support of Israel and to immediately stop funding terrorist organizations.
In response to Trump’s comments, Illinois Senator and combat veteran Tammy Duckworth said, “Trump further confirms he is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage.” Duckworth is the national co-chair of the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign.
