Former US President Donald Trump expressed his support for the war in Gaza during an interview with Israel Hayom.
“What I saw October 7 was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. You have to finish up your war, and I am sure you will do that. You have to get the job done to get on to a normal life for Israel, and for everybody else,” the former president stated.
He also agreed with Israel's course of action. "I would act very much the same way as you did. You would have to be crazy not to. Only a fool would not do that. That was a horrible attack."
He echoed concerns from several other parties that Israel has not sufficiently emphasized public diplomacy since the beginning of the war. "I think Israel made a very big mistake. The world is seeing this, and that's a bad image. I think that's one of the reasons that there has been a lot of kickback. "
Trump also reviewed his actions against Iran, which backs Hamas. "I said to many nations, 'If you buy oil from Iran, you will not do any business in the United States, and we're going to tariff your products. Every single one of them agreed."
Trump said it would be presumptuous of him to advise Israel on its strategy against Iran, with one key exception. "I don't think it's appropriate for me to tell you, but I don't think you can allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
He did have one important piece of advice for Israel: "Remember this, Biden is not a friend of Israel. If Biden was a friend of Israel, October 7 would have never happened."
He also denounced relatives of Vice President Harris for raising money for the UNRWA. "How could a Jewish person vote for Kamala Harris? She supports the enemy."
Trump also responded to the calls by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer for elections in Israel. "I think it's a terrible thing to do, because it takes all of your momentum away, because it shows great division in the United States. Fifteen years ago, that would have been unthinkable.”
He also blamed the war as a whole on the Democratic administration. "It was an attack that I blame on Biden because they have no respect for him. They saw him as a weak, ineffective president, they would have never done that attack if I were there.”
Trump speculated on the possibility of another visit to Israel: "I'm not Jewish, and yet Israel for me is very important. I would be glad to visit. In Israel, I get 98% of the vote.''