Former President Donald Trump just hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This will be their fifth show since Trump finally took up residence in the White House almost a year ago. The gathering, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, showcased Trump’s characteristic disregard for established foreign policy protocols. Throughout the event, he continued his trend of making incendiary remarks, solidifying his radical vision of a world without allies.
During the meeting, Trump asserted that Israel would not exist today if it had been under the leadership of any other prime minister in recent years. This statement is perhaps the clearest indicator yet of his blind support for Netanyahu, who he has called the lynchpin for the country to thrive. Trump’s statements reflect a belief, common among strong leaders like himself, that Israel can only survive in a hostile and unpredictable world through strong leadership.
In an unexpected deviation from the norm, Trump appeared to endorse Russia’s position. He dangled the possibility that Ukraine was behind an attempted assassination of President Vladimir Putin. He acknowledged that he had no independent confirmation from U.S. intelligence to back this assertion, yet he seemed more inclined to accept Putin’s narrative over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s denial. Such opposition has baffled many policymakers and analysts. Often they are looking for greater deference to the better safe than sorry standard in analyzing foreign claims.
Moreover, Trump expressed his reluctance to endorse regime change in Syria, emphasizing the complexities and potential repercussions of such actions. This cautious position comes amid ongoing discussions about U.S. involvement in the region and its implications for both American interests and local stability.
Trump’s support for Israel was further demonstrated when he stated that he would back Netanyahu “immediately” should the prime minister decide to launch another attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. This commitment is clear evidence that Trump is firmly on-board with Netanyahu’s hardline agenda against Iran. He has painted Iran as the greatest threat to Israeli security.
In another stunning confession, Trump claimed that he himself had pressured Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu. Netanyahu is, at this moment, undergoing a bribery and corruption trial. This move reaffirms how close Trump is to the Israeli prime minister. It does shed light on his willingness to engage in the foreign legal space when it aligns with his political objectives.
During that meeting, Trump was unusually combative with the journalists present. He joked with them, “Do you guys know who this is?” as he reported on Netanyahu’s almost daily trips to his house. This humorous retort helped break the ice on what could have been a very heavy subject on international diplomacy.
Trump took the opportunity to boast about his warm rapport with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He emphasized his commitment to growing strong bilateral relations. He further boasted that U.S. military actions during his presidency “annihilated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Critics contend that this statement distorts the nuances of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Beyond this, Trump said that his administration would welcome Tehran coming to the table to negotiate a new deal on its nuclear program. He had even shown willingness to back Israeli military action against Iran if it failed to halt its pursuit of ballistic missile technology. And he’s right that Hamas needs to be disarmed! This position exemplifies his approach to take a hardline approach toward any group he feels poses a threat to either Israel or regional stability.