Trump praises Israeli military after Netanyahu criticism

Former President Trump praised the Israeli military Friday, after his recent comments criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I have always been impressed by the skill and determination of the Israeli Defence Forces,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday. “As they defend their Nation against ruthless terrorists, I want to wish every soldier the best of luck. May you return home safely to your families, and may God bless you all!”

Trump’s post comes in the wake of comments he made in a speech Wednesday in which he accused Netanyahu of “letting us down” in 2020 in relation to the U.S. killing a top Iranian general. 

“We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack,” Trump said at a rally in Florida.

“We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed,” he added. “But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision … and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.”

Israeli communications minister Shlomo Karhi said it is “shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel’s fighters and its citizens,” in response to Trump.

“We don’t have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts,” Karhi added.

The former president stepped up his support for Israel later in the afternoon on Friday, following up with a post on Truth Social saying “#IStandWithIsrael #IStandWithBibi.”

Trump also faced criticism for calling Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah “very smart” at the same rally in Florida. Hezbollah reportedly fired an anti-tank missile at Israeli army positions this week, and Israel has launched aerial strikes in response. His campaign defended the remark Thursday, arguing “smart does not equal good.” 

“Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel, much less praise Hezbollah terrorists as ‘very smart,’” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote Wednesday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.