'Never had a better friend': Trump touts Israel record at Jewish gathering
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Addressing an audience of Jewish Americans on Saturday, President Donald Trump clearly relished the chants of “four more years” and the peppering of red “Make America Great Again” hats throughout the crowded ballroom.
“The Jewish state has never had a better friend in the White House than your president, Donald J. Trump,” he proudly told thousands gathered at the Israeli-American Council National Summit before lashing Hillary Clinton, Democrats and the previous administration.
It was like a campaign rally, with a Jewish twist.
Trump on Saturday traveled to the critical swing state of Florida to raise money with Republican donors and deliver the summit’s keynote speech. Although billed as nonpartisan, the annual IAC conference gave the president the opportunity to speak to his administration’s policies toward Israel and continue Republican efforts to expand their Jewish voting base.
After being welcomed on stage by Republican megadonors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, Trump reprised much of his stump speech, delivering dramatic re-enactments of his phone calls with dignitaries and donors, attacking former Democratic nominee Clinton and saying the crowd wouldn’t vote for 2020 contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Trump, without using their names, went after frequent targets Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and others who voted against condemning a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
“You’ve got to be very careful, make no mistake, radical lawmakers who support the BDS movement are advancing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic propaganda,” Trump said.
“My administration strongly opposes this despicable rhetoric, and as long as I am your president, it makes no difference, it is not happening.”
Trump has transformed America’s alliance with Israel during his first term in office by moving the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv to the disputed holy city of Jerusalem, pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights. Trump’s policies have been praised by his evangelical Christian base but have turned America’s relationship with Israel into an increasingly polarizing political issue.
In a jab at the Obama administration, the president said the alliance was “undermined and neglected” when he came into office.
“I don't think they liked Israel too much, I'm sorry. After eight years of which our alliance was undermined and neglected, I am happy to report the United States-Israeli relationship is stronger now than ever before,” Trump said.
Trump’s appearance at the summit comes at a political flashpoint for both American and Israeli domestic politics as both Trump and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu are fending off scandals at home.
Trump faces an impeachment inquiry on Capitol Hill and Netanyahu was recently indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Echoing each other from across the Atlantic, the two have attacked what they call the “fake news” and bemoaned they’re a victim of a political “witch hunt.”
But Trump, who called Netanyahu a “good friend” throughout his presidency, has appeared to distance himself from the embattled Israeli president after Netanyahu lost his election in September, was indicted and has failed to form a coalition government.
Absent from the president’s speech was any mention of Netanyahu’s name.
Netanyahu has campaigned on his coziness with Trump, and promised if he won his election he would turn to the next item on his wish list, the annexation of Jordan Valley.
Israelis view the strip of land that connects the West Bank to Jordan as critical to border security, but Palestinians believe the annexation would squelch the potential for a presence in the West Bank and diminish the chances of a two-state solution. Recently Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opened a door to its potential annexation after he announced that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are not necessarily illegal, bucking decades of State Department policy.
Perhaps most notably, the president praised his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, and his work on a Middle East proposal that has stalled in the wake of Israel's contentious elections and recent Trump policy announcements.
“I love deals and I was told the toughest of all deals is peace with Israel and the Palestinians,” Trump said. “But if Jared Kushner can't do it, it can't be done."
