Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie called former President Trump a “fool” for calling the militant group Hezbollah “very smart.”
In a speech with his supporters Wednesday in Florida, Trump criticized Israel’s lack of preparedness for the attacks from the militant group Hamas.
He critiqued the Israeli defense minister for issuing a warning to Hezbollah, saying the group is “very smart” and could use the message to its advantage.
Christie said he thinks many Republicans are troubled by the former president’s comments.
“He’s a fool. Only a fool would make those kinds of comments,” Christie said in an interview with CNN on Thursday. “Only a fool would give comments that could give aid and comfort to Israel’s adversary in this situation.”
Christie continued, saying Trump continually makes statements “in the context of himself,” because Trump detailed his “resentment towards [Israel] Prime Minister Netanyahu” and a disagreement they had.
In his speech Wednesday, the former president accused Netanyahu of “letting us down” in 2020 before the U.S. killed a top Iranian general. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) and former Vice President Mike Pence were among those who criticized Trump for the remarks in the days since. Trump is likely to face more criticism and negative messaging from the other GOP candidates vying for the White House.
“This is someone who cares not about the American people, not about the people of Israel, but he cares about one person and one person only, the person he sees in the mirror when he wakes up in the morning,” the former governor said.
Christie called upon Republicans, saying they cannot nominate Trump and “get him anywhere near the presidency.” He said “desperate times” like the Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war show that the American presidency is important “not just in the U.S.” but around the world.
On Sunday, a day after Hamas began its attack on Israel, Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social saying the attack was horrible but “would never have happened” if he were president.