Trump suggest Iranian attack on Israel would not have occurred on his watch
In an unprecedented direct attack on the Jewish state, Iran on Saturday launched drone and missile strikes on one of America's strongest allies, and the brazen acts drew responses from across the political spectrum.
Former President Donald Trump lamented the Iranian attack on Israel that evening, suggesting that tensions in the Middle East would be nowhere near as elevated had the 2020 presidential election turned out differently, as Fox News reports.
Trump weighs in
The Iranian attack on Israel commenced just as Trump was preparing to speak to an enthusiastic rally crowd in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
Prior to addressing attendees in person, the former president took to social media to express frustration about what was taking place overseas.
“ISRAEL IS UNDER ATTACK! This should never have been allowed to happen – This would NEVER have happened if I were President,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump did not broach the topic only in writing, as he also spoke directly to the Pennsylvania crowd about what was underway.
“Before going any further, I want to say God bless the people of Israel. They're under attack right now,” he stated.
What could have been
Trump's commentary on the situation did not stop there, as he also used the Iranian attack as a launching point for criticism of his successor in the Oval Office.
Targeting his likely November opponent's handling of the crisis and blaming him for the current state of affairs, Trump said, “That's because we show great weakness. The weakness that we've shown is unbelievable, and it would not have happened if we were in office.”
“This is an attack that wouldn't have happened,” he went on. “I mean, to think about, to think about what you have to go through.”
Trump contended, “Ukraine would never have happened, Israel [being] attacked both October 7th and today would never have happened.”
Not the only order of business
In addition to his remarks on Israel, Trump used the Pennsylvania event to announce his decision on a key Senate endorsement, that of GOP hopeful David McCormick, as The Hill noted.
Despite having declined to endorse McCormick when he last sought a seat in the upper chamber back in 2022, Trump said of the candidate, “He wants to run a good ship. He's a smart guy, who was a very successful guy. He's given up a lot to do this.”
Given all of the legal difficulties he continues to face and the rigors of running a presidential campaign, let alone potentially serving another four years in the White House, that is certainly a situation to which Trump can personally relate.