World War III could happen if Kamala Harris becomes president – Trump tells Israeli leader, Netenyahu during visit
Former US president Donald Trump has that conflicts in the Middle East could escalate into a third World War if he current US Vice President, Kamara Harris wins the 2024 election.
Trump said this when the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited him at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort home on Friday, July 26, 2024.
Netanyahu moved to Florida to meet with the Republican presidential nominee after meeting with US President Joe Biden and presumptive Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C.
Netenyahu had on Wednesday addressed a joint session of Congress.
After their meeting at Mar-a-Lago, Trump told reporters that Harris is “worse” on Middle East issues and claimed Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza could expand into a wider regional conflict if she succeeds Biden.
“We’ll see how it goes. But if it all works out, if we win, it’ll be very simple. It’s all going to work out. And very quickly,” Trump said.
“If we don’t, you’re going to end up with major wars in the Middle East. And maybe a third World War. You are closer to a third World War right now than at any time since the Second World War. We’ve never been so close because we have incompetent people running the country.”
Trump’s remarks followed a reported diplomatic issue between Harris and Netanyahu which happened after their meeting Thursday.
In comments after the meeting, Harris said she told the Israeli prime minister that she “will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran and Iran-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah.”
“I also expressed with the Prime Minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians. And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there,” she added, calling for an end to the war and the release of all hostages held in Hamas captivity.
Harris’ criticisms of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war reportedly irked Netanyahu, according to Axios. The prime minister has repeatedly said fighting must continue until Hamas is eliminated, even if hostages are released.
Asked about Harris’ comments Friday, Netanyahu told reporters Israel still hopes for a cease-fire deal.
“We’re trying to get one. And I think, to the extent that Hamas understands that there’s no daylight between Israel and the United States, that expedites the deal. And I hope that those comments don’t change that,” Netanyahu said.
The Mar-a-Lago meeting is the first face-to-face contact Netanyahu has had with Trump since the Republican nominee left the White House in 2020.
Their relationship strained when Netanyahu congratulated President-elect Biden on his victory that year, which prompted Trump to call out the Israeli leader. “I haven’t spoken to him since,” Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid that year. “F–k him,” the former president added.
