Former President Donald Trump has been inconsistent publicly about whether the Israel-Gaza war should end, at times urging for peace and at other times supporting Israel’s right to continue its actions. However, in a private meeting with wealthy donors, he clearly stated his support for Israel’s ongoing "war on terror."
During a roundtable event in New York, Trump vowed to expel student demonstrators, particularly those participating in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, promising to "crush" these protests. He joked that 98 percent of his Jewish friends were in the room and assured the donors that he would deport protesting students to ensure they behaved.
When donors expressed concerns about the future influence of protesting students and professors, Trump labeled the demonstrators as part of a “radical revolution” and praised the New York Police Department for their actions at Columbia University, urging other cities to follow suit. He assured the donors that re-electing him would significantly set back the protest movements.
Trump has wavered in public statements about the war in Gaza, sometimes calling for a swift end to the conflict, while major Republican donors have pushed him to take a stronger pro-Israel stance. In the private meeting, Trump reaffirmed his support for Israel’s actions against Gaza and emphasized his previous pro-Israel policies during his presidency, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel.
Despite his support for Israel, Trump did not mention Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he has had a strained relationship since Netanyahu acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Trump’s remarks on Israel’s strategy in Gaza have been mixed, criticizing the war’s impact on Israel’s public image but also supporting Israel’s right to continue its military actions.
Trump expressed frustration that Jewish Americans did not vote for him in higher numbers, questioning their loyalty to Democrats. His comments have occasionally sparked backlash, with accusations of evoking antisemitic stereotypes. Influential Republican donors have urged Trump to support Netanyahu publicly, though he has often criticized the Israeli leader.
Trump’s campaign did not provide detailed responses to inquiries about his Israel policies, but his national press secretary assured that under Trump, Israel would be protected, and terrorist threats would be addressed.
Both Trump and Biden face challenges in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Trump’s rhetoric limiting his ability to capitalize on Biden’s difficulties. Trump has consistently claimed that Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023 would not have occurred if he were president, although his statements about Israel’s conduct in the war have been somewhat contradictory.
In meetings with donors, Trump reiterated his accomplishments for Israel during his presidency and stressed the importance of his support for the country. He also expressed concern about Israel’s diminishing influence in the U.S. and his disappointment with the voting patterns of Jewish Americans. His relationship with Netanyahu remains complicated, influenced by past grievances and differing political strategies.
Top Trump allies have recently visited Israel, organizing educational visits and meeting with Israeli officials, but they did not deliver messages from Trump. Trump, in his remarks to donors, compared the current situation to the period leading up to the Holocaust, warning of the dangers of weak leadership and unchecked aggression.
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