Donald Trump’s candid and potentially controversial remarks on the turmoil involving Hamas in Israel are strikingly indicative of his perception of foreign affairs – it all seems to revolve around him. Trump has been vocal in criticizing Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, while applauding the intelligence of Hezbollah militants. His assertions that such attacks, which have claimed the lives of 1,200 people, would not have transpired if he had been in the Oval Office, is a conspicuous bid to use the turmoil to his political advantage.
Trump’s ire against Netanyahu isn’t new. He revealed his frustration over the Israeli leader pulling out last-minute from the planned US air attack that resulted in the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian intelligence chief, in Iraq back in 2020. Trump was also not pleased with Netanyahu’s reportedly disloyal act of recognizing his electoral defeat.
While Trump is currently a private citizen, and his approach towards the situation might have been different during his incumbency, his potential run as a Republican front-runner in 2024 has his words under rigorous surveillance. The latest commotion around his comments feeds into the existing evidence suggesting his second term in office could potentially be even more tumultuous, both domestically and globally, than his first.
Trump’s recent commentary provides opportunistic contemporaries within the GOP the ammunition to question his suitability for the role of a future Commander-in-Chief. Among the horrified critics was New Jersey’s former Governor, Chris Christie, who declared Trump’s comments a potential aid to Israel’s adversarial circumstances, emphasizing Trump’s self-centeredness.
Seeking to control the escalating controversy, Trump released a statement on Thursday evening in which he proclaimed his staunch support for Israel and criticized President Joe Biden’s presumed incompetence, asserting that security would be restored with him back in office.
Trump’s principle-driven approach to foreign policies often displays a priority for personal gains over national interests, which starkly contrasts with his potential contender in the 2024 election, President Biden. Biden balances legitimacy with a methodical hands-off approach in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leaving critics questioning the efficacy of such a handling, as it overlooks the potential threat from Hamas and the safety of Israel.
In a Fox News interview, Trump criticized Netanyahu and Israel for being unprepared, claiming the political and intelligence failures in Israel would certainly be scrutinized after the war. Trump’s comments, while perhaps accurate, certainly raise questions regarding timing and tone. Harsh criticisms amidst trying times do little more than deepen the wounds of a nation in distress.
Trump’s statements also underscore his earlier tendencies to milk political advantage from his stances on Israel. Last October, his rant that American Jews hadn’t appreciated him enough signified instrumentalizing antisemitic tropes to serve his agenda, leaving him open to accusations of insulting Jews and Israelis.
Certain uncalled-for remarks from Trump on Hezbollah, going so far as to imply their viciousness is an indicator of intelligence, seemed inappropriate. Throughout his political career, Trump hasn’t hidden his admiration for leaders who rule with an iron fist, figures such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean despot Kim Jong Un, despite their human rights violations. His long history of praising Russia’s Vladimir Putin only adds to his controversial dossier.
Even while holding office, Trump showed a tendency to put his political ambitions before national interests. Infamously siding with Putin while dismissing U.S intelligence agency findings of Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections exemplifies the stark straying he is capable of.
Still, Trump advocates for a revival of his “America First” nationalist foreign policy, a robust approach that openly disregards international security norms and allied relations. His recent comments would further fuel suspicions about his self-centered motives and open contempt for conventional political or humanitarian norms. However, his unfiltered authenticity appeals to certain sections of grass roots Republicans. Trump’s criticism of Israel’s absence from the raid that killed Soleimani spoke of an attitude that wasn’t forgotten by his GOP contenders.
Trump’s past with loose commentary on government secrets leaves room for aplenty doubts. He was indicted over alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort after his term ended. Recent reports suggest he shared U.S secrets about the submarine service and nuclear weapons with an Australian billionaire. Trump, of course, denies all the allegations.
GOP rivals, who find it difficult to expose Trump’s political vulnerabilities without risking alienating his loyal followers, seized the opportunity to critique him. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida criticized Trump for hurling “verbal grenades” at Israel. Mike Pence, the former Vice President, took a similar stance, questioning Trump’s foreign policy plans, despite participating in that very administration.
Trump’s unapologetically personal approach to foreign policy, steeped in his prejudices, grievances, and quest for political advantage, threatens to shake the world’s core once again if he secures a victory in 2024.
