In an intriguing move designed to harness the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict for political advantage in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump delivered a speech on Wednesday at a Republican event in Palm Beach, Florida. The event, hosted by the ardent pro-Trump organization Club 47, saw Trump elaborating extensively on the situation in Israel, offering a clear glimpse into his strategy of using the conflict to criticize President Joe Biden on key foreign policy issues.
This speech marked Trump’s most substantial commentary on the Israel-Hamas war since the outbreak of hostilities initiated by Hamas against Israeli civilians over the past weekend. It raised the question of how the Israel conflict might become a pivotal factor in the dynamics of the 2024 election, akin to how the Ukrainian conflict unexpectedly galvanized Trump’s base within the Republican Party.
Throughout his lengthy one-hour-and-forty-minute address, Trump consistently framed Biden as responsible for the upsurge in global conflicts during his tenure, despite the limited factual support for his claims. Trump stated, “Under my leadership, the world was characterized by peace and tranquility, as America commanded respect. With Joe Biden, you witness chaos, bloodshed, warfare, terror, and death.” He further accused Biden of recklessly handing over Israel to what he referred to as “bloodthirsty jihadis,” albeit without providing substantiated evidence.
In a rather misleading manner, Trump repeatedly misrepresented the circumstances surrounding the release of $6 billion in humanitarian aid to Iran. He insinuated that these funds were subsequently transferred by Iran to Hamas to fuel attacks against Israel. However, U.S. officials have clarified that none of this money has been released to date and remains under the control of the U.S. Treasury in a bank account in Qatar, necessitating U.S. approval for any disbursements.
Curiously, Trump oscillated between claiming to be “the best friend Israel has ever had” and sharply criticizing Israel for perceived shortcomings in their military intelligence capabilities and for not participating in the U.S.-led assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020 during Trump’s own administration.
It’s noteworthy that the audience at the “Make America Great Again” event appeared largely unfazed by the nuances and inaccuracies of Trump’s remarks on Israel. This fact offers a glimpse into the sentiments of Trump’s core supporters, who continue to exert substantial influence on top Republican figures in Congress and on the campaign trail as they navigate the road to the 2024 election.
The event primarily attracted Trump’s fervent supporters, who eagerly waited for over two hours before the former president took the stage, surrounded by numerous American flags, a hallmark of his appearances. They enthusiastically danced and cheered during the wait, demonstrating their unwavering loyalty to Trump.
Interestingly, many of Trump’s supporters appeared disconnected from the convergence of his 2024 campaign and ongoing legal challenges. This was highlighted by the absence of Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, who had been slated as a major speaker but seemingly canceled his appearance. Gaetz had endorsed Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan for the position of House Speaker, but the majority whip Steve Scalise emerged as the winner of the House GOP contest, raising questions about Trump’s influence on the Republican Party.
