Israeli Prime Minister , left, and then-President stand to depart an Abraham Accords signing ceremony on Sept. 15, 2020, in Washington.
In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump received a warm reception at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual conference despite his previous controversial comments regarding Hezbollah and Israeli leaders. Trump, the eighth and final speaker at the event, was greeted with a lengthy standing ovation even before he began his speech.
During his half-hour address, Trump highlighted his achievements in support of Israel, calling for the eradication of Hamas and criticizing President Joe Biden’s stance on retaliation. He received cheers when he stated that every life lost during the conflict was the responsibility of Hamas alone.
Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, acknowledged that some attendees were troubled by Trump’s past comments but emphasized his strong pro-Israel record during his presidency. Ari Fleischer, a member of the group’s board of directors, also defended Trump, stating that his goodwill outweighs his occasional missteps.
Trump’s remarks praising Hezbollah came just days after a deadly attack by Hamas in Israel. Despite this, many attendees at the conference were willing to overlook these comments due to Trump’s significant contributions to Israel, including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and brokering normalization treaties with Arab countries.
While some criticized Trump’s rhetoric, his rivals for the 2024 GOP nomination, such as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, focused on the need for stability and a candidate who can successfully lead the country.
In response to Trump’s comments, Biden’s campaign criticized his erratic behavior and highlighted the importance of a steady and capable leader.
