Former US President Donald Trump lays blame for Israel/Hamas war at feet of Joe Biden

In a pre-Christmas interview with the Salem Radio Network, former president Donald J. Trump says the administration of his successor, U.S. President Joe Biden, is directly responsible for events which led to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.

Trump – who moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, shepherded the Abraham Accords and backed the annexation of the Golan Heights – told the Christian radio network’s Hugh Hewitt that Biden removing sanctions that he (Trump) had placed on Iran began a series of bad moves which led to funding of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. 

Trump charges that Biden “has gotten weaker and weaker and weaker. But where he’s really let (Israel) down is what happened during the past three years. When I was president, Iran was broke. Anybody that did business with Iran couldn’t do business with the United States. And they were totally broke. They had no money…that had nothing. They were absolutely broke I did such a job. No money for Hamas. No money for Hezbollah, there was no money going out to these terror groups.”

Trump contends that Iran was “down to selling literally just drops of oil. They were in big trouble and then Biden came in and he made them rich…under Biden, he took away all the sanctions. Under me, anybody who did any business whatsoever – including, especially, the buying of oil – I told President Xi, I told India, France, anybody who buys oil from Iran we don’t do business with them. They were down to selling literally just drops of oil. They were in big trouble and then Biden came in and he made them rich. He took all the sanctions off, and now they have $250-billion. They have more money than most countries and they’re loaded up with cash.”

As the leading Republican candidate in upcoming primaries and caucuses, which begin next month, Trump says he not only is looking forward to securing the GOP nomination but also debating Biden in the 2024 campaign.

“I hope we have 10 debates,” Trump mused.

President Biden’s supporting Israel in its war with Hamas “don’t mean anything” Trump believes. 

“He sounded very good the first. The second day was okay. Now? He’s not on Israel’s side at all. I’ll tell you what, under a Trump presidency, the attack on Israel would never have happened, and Ukraine wouldn’t have happened. It’s so sad to see but it’s happening because they don’t respect our president and our country. I’d hit them so hard like they’ve never been hit before and that would end it.”

Trump – like any sensible person in the world – recoiled in horror in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks which killed over 1,200 Israelis. But he says in Washington, politicians’ memories can be sadly lacking. He says America must stand with Israel until Hamas is 100% eradicated.

“Yes, you have to get rid of Hamas. They have to do it. They have no choice,” says Trump. “People have already forgotten about October 7. The heads of 42 infants! We’re not even talking about young children which is horrible. 42 infants, babies, the heads were chopped off. This is not acceptable, and you have to get rid of this group of people.”

And he circled back to “weakness” by Joe Biden and his administration. “Everyone’s talking about the trade America made with Iran for hostages a few weeks ago. They got $6-billion …and then they got another $10-billion because they sold some electricity to Iraq. Think of that: $10-billion. So they have $250-billion in cash. Biden gave it to them over a three year period by taking away my sanctions. And now you can’t talk to them because they’re rich as hell and they won’t talk.”

During the extended conversation, the former president also addressed questions about the American economy, the rise of antisemitism on college campuses and around the United States, and his severe criticism of the Open Border policies under President Biden. But he repeatedly guided the discussion back to his concerns for Israel, the Israeli people and American troops being fired-upon by proxies of Iran in Lebanon and elsewhere.

Trump’s interview shows, again, his passion for and support of Israel which promises to keep the Israel/Hamas war top of mind once the Christmas and New Year holidays pass and voters begin heading to the polls in America’s 2024 presidential election.