Former President Donald Trump's reputation for defying political norms and weathering scandals is once again being questioned.
This week, a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel has turned the race for the White House upside down, resulting in the deadliest assault on the Jewish State in decades.
After the initial attack, which left thousands dead and wounded as Hamas militants infiltrated Israel and targeted civilians, Trump made controversial comments critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and referred to a terror group as "smart." These remarks drew criticism not only from Democrats but also from some of his top rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, in an interview with Fox News, stated that Trump's comment "just doesn't make any sense." Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, emphasized that "we can't be doing this. You don't need to be talking about how good Hezbollah is, and you don't need to be talking about how bad Netanyahu is."
Trump, who often touted himself as the strongest defender of Israel to ever serve as president, criticized Netanyahu for allegedly backing out of a plan to kill Iran's top security and intelligence commander, Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, who was later killed by an American drone strike in 2020. Trump expressed disappointment in Netanyahu's actions and claimed that the U.S. carried out the operation with "absolute precision."
Pointing to the apparent intelligence failure by Israel in anticipating the Hamas attack, Trump called on Israel to "straighten it out" and "strengthen themselves up." He also blamed President Biden's administration for the terror attack and clashes on Israel's northern border with Hezbollah, another group backed by Iran. Trump even credited Hezbollah, which is committed to the destruction of Israel, saying "Hezbollah, they're very smart."
Critics, including DeSantis and Haley, questioned Trump's comments and urged him to show strength and moral clarity in supporting Israel's defense. DeSantis argued that this is a time to be strong and focused, while Haley criticized Trump for dwelling on the past and not dealing with current issues directly.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served as Trump's running mate twice, called the former president's comments "reckless and irresponsible." North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum suggested that if Trump wants to make such comments, he should be a pundit on TV.
The strained relationship between Trump and Netanyahu began when the Israeli leader congratulated President-elect Biden for winning the 2020 election while Trump was still contesting the results. White House spokesman Andrew Bates called Trump's statements "dangerous and unhinged," while Israeli communications minister Shlomo Karhi described them as "shameful."
A spokesperson for Trump's campaign clarified his remarks, stating that he was highlighting the incompetence of the Biden administration in telegraphing areas susceptible to attack by terrorists. The spokesperson emphasized that "smart does not equal good" and accused Biden of being "stupid."
In another statement, Trump reaffirmed his support for Israel, claiming that there was no better friend or ally than him during his presidency. He highlighted his administration's solidarity with Israel and the historic strides made for peace in the Middle East.
The political question now is whether Trump's comments will impact his standing as the front-runner in the GOP presidential nomination race. Republican consultant David Kochel expressed concern over Trump's personal pique against Netanyahu and argued that if these issues dictate Trump's foreign policy thinking, he is putting himself before America. Kochel suggested that it may be time to rename Trump's agenda.
However, other Republican consultants, such as Jim Merrill, believe that Trump's record on Israel, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, will outweigh any controversy caused by his comments. Merrill predicted that this incident would not leave a lasting mark on Trump's political standing.
Meanwhile, Pence has decided to skip the Nevada GOP's presidential caucuses and instead filed for the state-run primary, which will be held two days earlier. Four Republican contenders have filed to participate in the caucuses, but Pence is the first candidate to take part in the primary.
The move may indicate that Pence wants to avoid investing in the organization needed to perform well in a caucus and instead aims for a symbolic finish in the primary. Pence, who faces an uphill battle for the nomination due to his alienation of MAGA voters, emphasized that it's about votes, not money, and expressed his commitment to carrying his message in Nevada.
As the candidates prepare to disclose their latest fundraising reports, the impact of Trump's comments and Pence's strategic decisions will become clearer.
The race for the GOP presidential nomination continues to evolve, with each candidate navigating their own path to secure support and distinguish themselves from their rivals.
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