While President Joe Biden has maintained some level of rhetorical support for Israel in the months since the terrorist attack by Hamas, his initially robust endorsement of the nation’s right to defend itself has waned over time.
In the aftermath of Iran’s drone and missile strike against Israel on Saturday, a host of Biden critics have put at least some of the blame on the Biden administration’s timid foreign policy.
Iran’s drone strikes against Israel are a direct result of Joe Biden’s weak foreign policy.
Less than a month ago, the Biden Administration refused to back our ally during the UNSC’s ceasefire vote.
Now more than ever, America must reaffirm our support for Israel.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) April 13, 2024
For his part, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump cited his own term in the White House as a stark contrast to chaos that has ensued on the world stage under his successor’s leadership.
During a campaign event in Pennsylvania, the former president offered his support for Israel before delving into his assessment of the current administration.
“I want to say God bless the people of Israel,” Trump began. “They’re under attack right now. That’s because we show weakness. The weakness we’ve shown, it’s unbelievable and it would not have happened if we were in office. Everybody knows that. But America prays for Israel. We send our absolute support to everyone in harm’s way. This is an attack that would not have happened.”
Furthermore, he asserted that the October attack by Hamas as well as Russia’s war in Ukraine would have been prevented if he had been in office. If elected to serve another term, he vowed that the relative peace attained during his first four years would be reinstated.
“We will return the world to peace through strength and it will happen very quick,” he said. “We will revive American strength abroad and we will restore American strength at home. We were respected four years ago all over the world. Today we are considered a joke. It’s not going to be for long, believe me.”
Trump also reacted on social media, including with a repost of a 2018 all-caps warning to then-Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
“Never, ever threaten the United States again or you will suffer the consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before,” he wrote. “We are no longer a country that will stand for your demented words of violence & death. Be cautious!”
