Former President Trump on Wednesday attacked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has previously criticized Israel’s response to the Gaza war, saying the top Jewish Democrat has “become like the Palestinians.”
Asked about Israel’s war with Hamas during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee in November cited criticism from Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (R-NY) and Schumer, among others, and suggested Israel doesn’t have the same support in Congress as it did a few years ago.
“They don’t have the support. Even Schumer has become like the Palestinians. Chuck Schumer is Jewish and he’s always been strong for Israel. He’s become like the Palestinians,” Trump said.
“This is very bad. This is very sad and very dangerous,” he added.
Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Speaking to Congress in March, Schumer argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “lost his way” and called for new elections in Israel amid the country’s war with Hamas.
“As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: After Oct. 7, the Netanyahu coalition no longer meets Israel’s needs,” Schumer said at the time, referring to the Hamas attacks that killed more than 1,000 Israelis. “The world has fundamentally changed since then, and the Israeli people are now oppressed by a governing vision stuck in the past.”
Schumer’s comments drew backlash, particularly from Republicans, some of whom said it was inappropriate for him to call for elections and a change in leadership in a new Democratic administration.
In the months since, Schumer has overseen the passage of legislation that provides billions of dollars to Israel as its war with Hamas continues.
Since Schumer’s speech in March, Netanyahu has come under increasing scrutiny amid the killing of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including high-profile incidents of civilians and humanitarian workers. Despite the White House repeatedly saying its support for Israel is “ironclad,” President Biden has previously suggested Netanyahu is hurting Israel more than helping it.
President Trump has criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu following the October 7 attack, telling Time magazine in an April interview that “the prime minister is rightly being criticized for what happened.”
Mr Trump has previously questioned Jews who do not support Israel, suggesting that Jewish Americans who vote Democrat should “get their heads checked”.
The former president told Hannity on Wednesday that Israel “has to finish the job” in the fight against Hamas.
“They need to finish it quickly, they need to get strong and get back to life because it’s taking too long. They need to get the job done,” he said.
The White House last week Three-step proposal The agreement would lead to a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and allow for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, but Hamas has not yet accepted its terms.
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