Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and called the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah “very smart” ― just days after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel prompted the latter to declare a state of war, and amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.
The Republican 2024 front-runner, during an event in West Palm Beach, Florida, recalled to supporters what he described as “a bad experience with Israel” when he claimed Netanyahu had at the last minute pulled out from a joint U.S.-Israel 2020 operation to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
Trump decided to go ahead with the strike anyway, he said. His version of events has not yet been confirmed.
“We did it but I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing,” Trump said. “We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed,” Trump later added. “But we did the job ourself and it was absolute precision, a magnificent, beautiful job. And then Bibi tried to take credit for it. That didn’t make me feel too good but that’s all right.”
Trump suggested the story wasn’t previously known. “They’ll say, ‘Oh, it’s classified information.’ Well, maybe it is, but I don’t think so,” he added. Trump was charged in June for allegedly mishandling classified materials after leaving the White House.
Trump was reportedly furious when Netanyahu congratulated President Joe Biden on his 2020 election victory, which Trump falsely maintains to this day was stolen. Some commentators speculated Trump’s criticism of Netanyahu could be down to that.
Earlier in his speech, Trump complimented the Iran-aligned Hezbollah, which on Sunday attacked Israeli positions from the north in what it described as being in solidarity with the “Palestinian resistance.”
Trump suggested the group got the idea after a U.S. official expressed fears that Hamas could open a second front, and said Israel now had to up its intelligence gathering.
“You know, Hezbollah is very smart,” Trump said. “They’re all very smart.”
“The press doesn’t like when they say it,” he acknowledged.
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said Trump was “clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack,” reported The Washington Post.
“Smart does not equal good,” Cheung added.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) slammed 2024 rival Trump’s comments.
“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,’” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="YouTube" data-component-id="4849" data-component-props="{"itemType":"video","index":20,"contentListType":"embed","code":"
","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Right Side Broadcasting Network","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHqC-yWZ1kri4YzwRSt6RGQ","cache_age":86400,"description":"The 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump delivers remarks to supporters within Club 47 in West Palm Beach, FL. \n\nThe Birch Gold Group: Get your free Gold IRA information kit simply by going to https://birchgold.com/rsbn today!\n\nFree Trump Book: Get your free Trump book! Just pay a small shipping and handling fee! Go to https://freetrumpbook.com/\n\nMy Trump Shirt: Get your Wanted for President T-shirt as a welcome bonus to Join their Trump T-shirt club. Go to http://mytrumpshirt.com/\n\nThe broadcast is expected to begin at 5:00 pm ET. \nPlease note, the times are subject to change.\n\nStay up to date on Right Side Broadcasting Network coverage, go to rsbnetwork.com/newsletter or download our new mobile app to get notifications for important events!\n\niPhone/iPad/tvOS:\nhttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/rsbn/id1556666942\nAndroid/Android TV: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maz.combo3578\n\nJoin our Locals community!\nhttps://rsbn.locals.com/\n\nWith a mission to give you FULL LIVE UNEDITED coverage, we are backed by patriots like you when you go to rsbnetwork.com/donate, or when you shop directly from our partner, MyPillow at mypillow.com and use code ‘RSBN’ at checkout for up to 66% OFF your ENTIRE order!\n\nPrefer articles? Stay informed on events and news from our team of writers!\nrsbnetwork.com/news\n\nWatch on the Right Side Broadcasting Network web app:\nrsbnetwork.tv/","options":{"_cc_load_policy":{"label":"Closed captions","value":false},"_end":{"label":"End on","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"_start":{"label":"Start from","placeholder":"ex.: 11, 1m10s","value":""},"click_to_play":{"label":"Hold load & play until clicked","value":false}},"provider_name":"YouTube","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MWl2HZ5YpBE/maxresdefault.jpg","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"LIVE: President Donald J. Trump Visits Club 47 in West Palm Beach, FL – 10/11/23","type":"video","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWl2HZ5YpBE","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://www.huffpost.com","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6527b1aae4b0102e6964bb29","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-israel-hezbollah_n_6527b1aae4b0102e6964bb29","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,2024-election,benjamin-netanyahu,@us_huffpost_now","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news,media","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065"},"customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6527b1aae4b0102e6964bb29","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/donald-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"2024 election","slug":"2024-election","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/2024-election","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/2024-election","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/2024-election"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"2024 Elections","slug":"2024-elections","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/2024-elections"},{"name":"Benjamin Netanyahu","slug":"benjamin-netanyahu","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/benjamin-netanyahu","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/benjamin-netanyahu","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/benjamin-netanyahu"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Benjamin Netanyahu","slug":"benjamin-netanyahu","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/benjamin-netanyahu"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["
\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}”>
<div class="js-react-hydrator" data-component-name="RelatedArticles" data-component-id="5922" data-component-props="{"index":21,"contentListType":"relatedArticles","blockTitle":"Related…","articlesList":[{"id":"65278d23e4b0a32c15c18231","editionId":"us","headline":"Sen. John Fetterman Mercilessly Mocks Republicans With Scathing 1-Liner","url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/john-fetterman-memes-colbert_n_65278d23e4b0a32c15c18231","dek":"The Pennsylvania senator responded to \"Late Show\" host Stephen Colbert's question about the awkwardness of running into lawmakers he's taunted.","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/652798f72300009d0054a36e.png","queryParams":{"cache":"sXZij4GAAs"},"width":1146,"height":767,"credit":"The Late Show","ops":""},"section":{"Id":"5576fe88e4b00a64381c1325","title":"Politics","url":"politics"},"lastPublished":"2023-10-12T07:01:56Z"},{"id":"652658e3e4b09f4b8d4250ed","editionId":"us","headline":"Ex-Pence Aide Recalls What Trump Said About MAGA Fans In Private. It’s Not Good.","url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/olivia-troye-donald-trump-maga-supporters_n_652658e3e4b09f4b8d4250ed","dek":"“I detest the way he speaks about them,” said Olivia Troye.","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/65265f571f000089001ba5ab.jpeg","queryParams":{"cache":"YyqTj4ADdn"},"width":4789,"height":3193,"credit":"via Associated Press","ops":""},"section":{"Id":"5576fe88e4b00a64381c1325","title":"Politics","url":"politics"},"lastPublished":"2023-10-11T13:49:47Z"},{"id":"65266efbe4b0102e69640518","editionId":"us","headline":"First Gen Z Congressman Flips Conservative Myth Back On Speaker-Less GOP","url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/maxwell-frost-republicans-stephen-colbert_n_65266efbe4b0102e69640518","dek":"Florida Democrat Maxwell Frost mocked Republicans with a line about socialism, too.","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/652683672300008900287bc5.png","queryParams":{"cache":"kjpLtV2O67"},"width":927,"height":681,"credit":"The Late Show","ops":""},"section":{"Id":"5576fe88e4b00a64381c1325","title":"Politics","url":"politics"},"lastPublished":"2023-10-11T12:03:28Z"},{"id":"65266160e4b0a32c15c0cd4f","editionId":"us","headline":"Ex-Prosecutor Says Jack Smith ‘Hasn’t Just Taken Off The Gloves’ With New Trump Move","url":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/glenn-kirschner-donald-trump-jack-smith-move_n_65266160e4b0a32c15c0cd4f","dek":"“Looks like he’s boxed them up, taped up the box, and sent them to long-term storage,” said Glenn Kirschner.","defaultImage":{"type":"hector","url":"https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/65266a712300007700287baf.jpeg","queryParams":{"cache":"R6cGlKeQnD"},"width":6000,"height":4000,"credit":"KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI via Getty Images","ops":""},"section":{"Id":"5576fe88e4b00a64381c1325","title":"Politics","url":"politics"},"lastPublished":"2023-10-11T12:16:45Z"}],"showArticlesPics":true,"specialLayout":"","flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://www.huffpost.com","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","slideshowAd":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"slideshowEndCard":{"scriptTags":[],"otherHtml":""},"isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6527b1aae4b0102e6964bb29","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-israel-hezbollah_n_6527b1aae4b0102e6964bb29","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,2024-election,benjamin-netanyahu,@us_huffpost_now","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news,media","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065"},"customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":7},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_slideshow":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6527b1aae4b0102e6964bb29","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/donald-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"2024 election","slug":"2024-election","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/2024-election","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/2024-election","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/2024-election"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"2024 Elections","slug":"2024-elections","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/2024-elections"},{"name":"Benjamin Netanyahu","slug":"benjamin-netanyahu","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/benjamin-netanyahu","permalink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/benjamin-netanyahu","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffpost.com/topic/benjamin-netanyahu"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"Benjamin Netanyahu","slug":"benjamin-netanyahu","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/benjamin-netanyahu"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["
\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-1\", \"entry_paragraph_1\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-2\", \"entry_paragraph_3\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n HPGam.cmd.push(function(){\r\n\t\treturn HPGam.render(\"inline-infinite\", \"repeating_dynamic_display\", false);\r\n });\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0}}”>
