Former US President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke on Thursday evening at the opening plenary of the 2024 Israeli-American Council (IAC) National Summit.
“I believe we are closer to World War 3 than at any time in the history of this country,” he said. “We have leaders who are grossly incompetent. They have no idea what’s happening.”
“In less than three weeks, we will mark the one-year anniversary of the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. On October 7, Hamas terrorists slaughtered more than 1,200 people…they tortured, kidnapped and horribly maimed thousands more. Unthinkable. Would not have happened if I was President. You know that.”
“Tonight we honor the memory of all who lost their lives in the October 7 attacks, and we pray to God that Israel will redeem their deaths with ultimate victory over those who wish to destroy it,” stated Trump.
The former President invited hostage Andrei Kozlov, who was rescued from Gaza during “Operation Arnon”, to join him on stage and quipped, “He has more courage than I do.”
“This evening, we repeat the vow that we have kept in our hearts since the terrible day in October: Never again. This should never have happened. Weak leadership in the United States allowed this to happen, and it should never have happened.”
“If we continue down our current path, with four more years of Kamala [Harris], Israel will be faced not just with an attack but with total annihilation,” he warned.
“I’ve said long and loud, and especially over the last few years: Anybody who’s Jewish, and loves being Jewish, and loves Israel, is a fool if they vote for a Democrat. But beyond that: If they love Israel, anyone who votes for Democrats and Kamala especially - she makes Barack Hussein Obama look like he loved Israel - you should have your head examined.”
“My message today is very simple: If you want Israel to survive, you need Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States. It’s very simple.”
The opening plenary starts a powerful three-day event commemorating the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel, honoring the victims and heroes ahead of the first anniversary of that horrific day and paying tribute to the heroes, survivors, and families of hostages.
He noted that Iran was left without money during his presidency. “The saddest part: They had no money, they wanted to make a deal, and these guys came in and they never made a deal. Now they’re rich again because [Biden] took all the sanctions off and everybody started buying, in particular China.”
Trump vowed that if elected in November, “We will deport the foreign jihad sympathizers and Hamas supporters from our midst. If you hate America, if you want to eliminate Israel - we will throw you out of our country so rapidly your head will spin.”
“If I don’t win this election, Israel in my opinion will cease to exist within two years, and I believe I’m 100% percent right. If I do win, Israel will be safe and secured. We will stop the toxic poison of antisemitism from spreading here,” he added.
In addition to the main address by President Donald Trump, the plenary featured a special appearance by Andrei Kozlov, who spoke before Trump.
Also speaking will be hostage parents Yael and Adi Alexander, of Tenafly, NJ, whose son Edan is still being held hostage by Hamas; and Orna and Ronen Neutra, of Plainview, NY, whose son Omer is also still being held hostage by Hamas.
IAC CEO Elan Carr, the former US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism and current U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt will both discuss the Oct. 7 anniversary as well.