Former President Trump said Israel “wouldn’t have had to be prepared” under his administration, suggesting the US would have thwarted the Hamas before they even began their attack.
Trump’s comments were released as a clip from an interview with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, to air Thursday.
“We have to protect Israel, there’s no choice,” Trump said.
“And why do we have to do it? [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] has been hurt very badly because of what’s happened here.”
“He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared,” Trump said.
“And under Trump, they wouldn’t have had to be prepared.”
The Israel and Gaza conflict resulted in the deaths of over two thousand people on both sides, including hundreds of civilians.
The surprise attacks resulted in Hamas militants fighting within Israel’s borders for days before being repelled.
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🇺🇸Pres Trump 💯🙌I stand with Israel and we will cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists.#TRUMPforPeace💯💪🙏#TRUMP2024tosavetheworld pic.twitter.com/roDz9F2SCL
— 5DME81 (@5dme81) October 10, 2023
“Who would have thought that their intelligence wouldn’t have been able to pick this up?” Trump said.
“Thousands of people were involved.”
“Thousands of people knew about it and they let it slip by.”
“That was not a good thing for [Netanyahu] or for anybody.”
Israel has stepped up airstrikes, leveling entire neighborhoods as it prepares for a likely ground invasion.
The US and Western allies have backed Israel since the conflict began.
On Tuesday, Joe Biden said Israel has a right to defend itself and will have US support.
“In this moment we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel,” Biden said in remarks from the State Dining Room.
“And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself and respond to this attack.”
“There’s no justification for terrorism.”
“There’s no excuse.”
On Monday, Trump warned of an impending WWIII while slamming Biden for his weak stance on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.
“We are in very, very grave danger of having a WWIII,” Trump began in his speech.
Trump also warned the conflict could end in “a war of obliteration” before blasting Biden.
“[He] can’t walk off the stage, can’t put two sentences together, and yet he’s negotiating with President Xi of China,’ Trump said.
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Trump is seeing what we’re possibly facing. It’s scary!
— SaturnsLady (@SaturnsLady) October 9, 2023
READ: Mike Pence: Trump Isn’t ‘Conservative’ Because He Would End the War in Ukraine
