Republican Candidate Criticizes Democrats and Foresees Middle East Turmoil Without His Re-election
On July 26, 2024, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. During the meeting, Trump sharply criticized his Democratic political opponents, particularly Vice-President Kamala Harris, and warned of dire consequences for the Middle East if he were not re-elected.
Trump stated, “We have incompetent people running our country” and warned that a lack of re-election could lead to “major wars in the Middle East and maybe a third world war.” He later reiterated his stance in a campaign statement, pledging to make efforts to bring peace to the Middle East and combat the spread of anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses if he returned to the White House.
The meeting came after Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress and met with President Joe Biden and Vice-President Harris. While Harris had been outspoken about the Gaza conflict, criticizing Israel’s military actions and urging for peace, Trump’s stance was much more supportive of Netanyahu, a leader with whom he had a notably warmer relationship compared to Biden. Trump criticized Harris for her remarks, calling her a “radical left person” and accusing her of disrespect towards Israel.
During the meeting, Netanyahu, who has been seeking a decisive victory against Hamas, posed with a hat reading “Total victory” while standing next to Trump. The meeting contrasted sharply with the tone of Harris’s meeting with Netanyahu on July 25, where she called for an end to violence in Gaza, highlighting the devastation and suffering in the region.
Trump’s campaign continues to lean on his foreign policy successes during his term, emphasizing his stance on Israel and the Middle East.
