Former US President Donald Trump asserted on Friday, July 26, that conflicts in the Middle East could escalate into a third World War if he does not win the 2024 election.
The Republican presidential nominee made these remarks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Netanyahu had traveled to Florida to meet with Trump after his meetings with US President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C., earlier in the week, following his address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
At Mar-a-Lago, Trump criticized Harris’s approach to Middle East issues, warning that Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza could broaden into a regional war if she succeeds Biden, who recently announced he would not seek re-election. Trump stated, “We’ll see how it goes. But if it all works out, if we win, it’ll be very simple. It’s all going to work out. And very quickly.”
He added, “If we don’t, you’re going to end up with major wars in the Middle East. And maybe a third World War. You are closer to a third World War right now than at any time since the Second World War. We’ve never been so close because we have incompetent people running the country.”
Trump’s comments come amid reported diplomatic tensions between Harris and Netanyahu following their meeting on Thursday. Harris expressed her unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense, particularly against threats from Iran and its allies, Hamas and Hezbollah. She also voiced serious concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging an end to the war and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
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Axios reported that Harris’s criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza had upset Netanyahu, who has consistently argued that military operations must continue until Hamas is eradicated, even if hostages are released.
In response to Harris’s comments, Netanyahu told reporters on Friday that Israel remains hopeful for a cease-fire agreement. “We’re trying to get one. And I think, to the extent that Hamas understands that there’s no daylight between Israel and the United States, that expedites the deal. And I hope that those comments don’t change that,” Netanyahu said.
The Mar-a-Lago meeting marked the first face-to-face interaction between Netanyahu and Trump since the latter left the White House in 2020. Their relationship had soured after Netanyahu congratulated President-elect Biden on his victory that year, leading Trump to criticize the Israeli leader. “I haven’t spoken to him since,” Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid at the time. “F–k him,” the former president added.
