In the midst of the turmoil in the Gaza Strip, Donald Trump exhibited his unyielding nature with a compelling speech on Wednesday evening.
While in Florida, the former president and front-runner for the GOP presidential race criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an alleged disagreement regarding a U.S. missile strike in 2020 that resulted in the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Trump declared, “I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing.” He even went on to express admiration for Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia that is aligned with Hamas and Iran, stating, “You know, Hezbollah is very smart. They’re all very smart.”
Trump anticipated that his comments would generate buzz and provoke a reaction from the media. However, the notable backlash came from other quarters. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, one of Trump’s top rivals, criticized him, stating, “Now is not the time to be attacking our ally. Trump puts himself first.” Other conservative leaders also expressed disgust. To counter the backlash, Trump’s campaign released a statement yesterday insisting, “There was no better friend or ally of Israel than President Donald J. Trump,” followed by another statement an hour later highlighting his pro-Israel actions during his presidency.
However, attempting to analyze Trump’s stance on Israel solely as pro or anti misses the essence of the situation. Trump lacks genuine allies or ideological commitments. His actions are driven by personal grievances, knee-jerk contrarianism, and an admiration for strength and violence. This explains his deep-seated grudge against Netanyahu, opposition to anything Biden does, and his fascination with the ruthless attacks carried out by Hamas.
Consequently, we are witnessing a series of bewildering reversals. Biden and Netanyahu, who have historically been at odds, are suddenly in agreement. Biden delivered a passionate, pro-Israel speech that received praise even from some of his usual critics on the pro-Israel right. Meanwhile, Trump and Netanyahu, who were once close allies, are now at odds. (Rolling Stone reports that Trump even desires to see Netanyahu “impeached,” although it makes little sense.) DeSantis and the White House are now teaming up to criticize Trump.
It is crucial to note that the contrast here is not about whether Netanyahu is good or if Biden’s policy is necessarily wise. It highlights the disparity between Biden’s consistent and coherent worldview and approach to policy and Trump’s impulsiveness driven by pettiness.
Trump is not a supporter or friend of Hezbollah or Hamas in any practical sense. (It is highly likely that he would struggle to articulate their motivations beyond a hatred for Israel and Jews.) This is because what impresses him is aggression and force, which is why he has previously praised leaders like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
Furthermore, friendship holds little significance for Trump. This applies to his relationship with Israel as well as to ordinary interpersonal connections. He viewed supporting Israel as politically advantageous, just like brokering the Abraham Accords. Trump’s connection with the Jewish people is similarly transactional. Despite making anti-Semitic remarks over the years, he expressed anger towards American Jews on Rosh Hashanah last month for not supporting him in the elections, despite all he had done for Israel. (He also fails to acknowledge any distinction between Jews and the Israeli government.)
Trump’s frustration with Netanyahu seems to stem from the aftermath of the 2020 election when Netanyahu congratulated Biden on his victory. In recent days, Netanyahu has shown appreciation and gratitude towards Biden for his unwavering support. Trump demands personal loyalty, even though he does not reciprocate, and he becomes outraged when other politicians engage in transactional behavior, despite relying on it himself.
Netanyahu’s actions in this situation are undoubtedly prudent. While he has clashed with Biden and Barack Obama before him on policy matters, it would be a diplomatic failure for any Israeli leader to be cold toward the President of the United States, Israel’s most important ally, particularly during a time of war. Nevertheless, Trump appears to want Netanyahu to reject Biden, the legitimate president, in favor of Trump, a private citizen facing legal issues and a history of electoral challenges.
No country can devise a coherent long-term policy when a future president might completely reverse course due to personal grievances. This wavering stance alienates allies, who hesitate to commit to any strategy that could abruptly change, and it subjects them to unwanted criticism from the world’s most powerful leader. It also inadvertently strengthens enemies such as Hezbollah, despite Trump’s personal disdain for them and lack of tangible support for their causes. As Trump’s first term in office demonstrated, this reactive pettiness is not the path to effective governance; unfortunately, it is the only path he knows.
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