President Biden and some of his aides blasted former President Trump on Thursday for remarks a night earlier in which Trump described Hezbollah as “very smart” amid unfolding violence in Israel.
Trump, addressing supporters in Florida days after Hamas launched terrorist attacks against Israel, went on an extended rant about the preparedness of Israeli defenses.
At one point, he singled out the Israeli defense minister for warning Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group and designated a terrorist organization, not to attack Israel from the north.
“They said, ‘Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesn’t attack from the north because that’s the most vulnerable spot,'” Trump said. “I said wait a minute, you know, Hezbollah is very smart. They’re all very smart. The press doesn’t like when I say it … but Hezbollah they’re very smart.
“And they have a national defense minister or somebody saying, ‘I hope Hezbollah doesn’t attack us from the north.’ So the following morning they attacked,” Trump added. “They might not have been doing it, but if you listen to this jerk, you would attack from the north.”
Biden responded to Trump’s comments on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, writing: “Our nation’s support for Israel is resolute and unwavering. And the right time to praise the terrorists who seek to destroy them is never.”
Biden aides were also quick to highlight Trump’s comments and contrast them with the current president’s own concrete support for Israel in recent days.
“Sickening rhetoric. Donald Trump is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage,” Kevin Munoz, a Biden campaign spokesperson, posted on X.
“We don’t comment on 2024. Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged. It’s completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as “smart.” Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel,” Andrew Bates, a deputy press secretar at the White House, said in a statement.
“Especially now as Israel is fighting back against one of the worst acts of mass murder in the country’s history,” Bates added. “This is a time for all of us to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel against ‘unadulterated evil.’ That’s what the President is doing as commander in chief.”
Jamie Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) called Trump’s comments “disgusting, depraved, and dangerous.”
“While Donald Trump continues to demonstrate how unhinged and unfit he is to lead, President Biden has received resounding praise for his condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism and for unequivocally standing with Israel,” Harrison said in a statement. “The contrast couldn’t be more clear.”
Biden has delivered multiple speeches on the attacks on Israel since began Saturday, condemning the violence as “abhorrent.”
The Biden administration has repositioned military assets in the region and sent interceptors and munitions to Israel in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel on Thursday and delivered remarks alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
More than 1,000 Israelis died in the terrorist attacks, and hundreds of Palestinians have died in ensuing fighting in Gaza. At least 25 Americans are among those who have been killed, Blinken confirmed Thursday.
Updated at 11:24 a.m.