In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump found himself under fire from some of his Republican rivals for openly criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after a deadly attack by Hamas. This unusual event marked a rare instance in which multiple competitors directly condemned the GOP front-runner.
During a rally on Wednesday night, Trump voiced his disappointment in Netanyahu, stating that the Israeli leader had "let us down" just before the United States carried out the strike that killed the top Iranian general, Qassem Soleimani, in 2020. Trump went further, suggesting that Israeli leaders needed to "step up their game" and curiously referring to Hezbollah, the organization Israel fears could launch a substantial attack from its northern borders, as "very smart." In an interview aired on Thursday, he continued to criticize Netanyahu, claiming that the Israeli leader "was not prepared" for the recent deadly incursion from Gaza.
The strong rebukes from Trump's fellow Republicans highlighted the gravity of the situation. "Now is not the time to be attacking our ally," emphasized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, one of Trump's 2024 rivals, echoing sentiments from the White House and elsewhere. The recent violence in the region has resulted in more than 2,700 casualties on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides, with Hamas holding around 150 hostages.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, another GOP presidential contender, likened Trump's comments to a foreign ally criticizing the United States in the aftermath of 9/11 or the attack on Pearl Harbor. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott stressed the importance of presenting a unified front, saying, "We cannot accept a single message to any of the enemies of Israel" that suggests U.S. and Israeli leaders are at odds.
Trump has typically received a cautious treatment from his leading Republican opponents, as they are wary of alienating his dedicated base. However, his criticisms of Israel, so soon after the unprecedented attack, underscore the extent to which the former president, who is the most likely candidate to challenge President Joe Biden in the next election, is motivated by personal animosities and resentments toward those who rejected his baseless claims about winning the 2020 election.
Although Trump and Netanyahu enjoyed a close alliance for years, their relationship soured when Netanyahu congratulated then-President-elect Biden for his victory in the 2020 election, while Trump was still trying to overturn the results. In interviews for a book on his Middle East peace efforts, Trump allegedly used derogatory language to describe Netanyahu and expressed doubts about the Israeli leader's true commitment to achieving peace in the region.
While some, like Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary and a board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition, hoped that Trump would set aside his personal grievances, others were less forgiving. Conservative radio host Erick Erickson, a critic of Trump, believed that the former president's impulsiveness had played into the hands of those who were not his friends, providing a propaganda victory for a terrorist group.
The White House spokesman, Andrew Bates, characterized Trump's statements as "dangerous and unhinged," and Israel's communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, deemed them "shameful." Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the matter.
In Washington, President Joe Biden and senior leaders from both the Democratic and Republican parties have expressed their support for Israel in the wake of the Hamas attack. Biden referred to the attack as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
Despite his past claims of staunch support for Israel, Trump's recent criticisms of Netanyahu have raised concerns. While he initially attempted to place blame on Biden, he later pointed to Israel's intelligence failures and called on them to "step up their game." Trump's account of Israel's role in the 2020 mission remains unverified.
It remains uncertain how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East might impact the upcoming GOP primary, set to begin in Iowa in three months, or the general election. For some Republican voters, Trump's comments were a departure from his strong support for Israel, which he had been known for. As one voter, Melissa Blasek, put it, "What's clear is that this is not the Trump of 2016. He is not the same candidate... And so things sound less coherent. And I am tired of incoherency. I like an articulate and coherent president."