Donald Trump told a conservative conference on Friday that if he returns to the White House for a second term, he “can prevent World War III.”
The Republican presidential candidate made the remarks at the Believers Summit in Palm Beach, Florida, hosted by Turning Point Action, the campaign arm of the conservative group Turning Point USA.
In a speech Friday that aired in its entirety on the conservative Right Side Broadcasting Network, Trump said, “I will prevent World War III. No one else can say that. We are closer to World War III than we’ve been since World War II. We will bring back peace by strength. That’s what we have.”
Tensions between the rival powers have been rising for several years, culminating in Russia launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, sparking a war that has left Russian forces alone with around 550,000 casualties, according to a recent British military estimate. Western nations, including the United States, responded to the invasion by imposing sanctions on Russia and providing weapons to Ukraine.
Separately, on October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 into Gaza. In response, Israel launched a major air and ground invasion of Gaza, killing more than 39,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled strip’s health ministry. The conflict has also seen skirmishes between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, threatening to escalate into all-out war.
Former President Donald Trump gestures after speaking at the Turning Point Action Believer Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 26, 2024. At the event, Trump said November’s presidential election could prevent the outbreak of World War III. Former President Donald Trump gestures after speaking at the Turning Point Action Believer Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 26, 2024. At the event, Trump said November’s presidential election could prevent the outbreak of World War III. Read more: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/GETTY
“Remember Hillary Clinton,” he continued, “she used to say, look at him, he’s going to get us into war, look at his attitude. I said no, my attitude will keep you out of war. And that’s what happened. I defeated ISIS, but there was no other new war. But it was a war that had already started. I defeated the ISIS caliphate, 100 percent.”
Newsweek reached out to a representative for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign for comment via email outside of regular business hours on Saturday.
ISIS has lost almost all of the territory it directly controlled in Iraq and Syria, but the group remains active and continues to carry out attacks, including the Crocus City Hall massacre near Moscow in March that left 140 people dead.
Trump also reiterated his pledge to replicate Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system across the United States, saying, “During my next term, we will build our own incredible Iron Dome missile defense system. The Dome block will be the like of nothing you’ve ever seen before, and it will be entirely American made.”
The former president made similar remarks in a speech at the Republican National Convention earlier this month, saying, “We are going to build an iron dome over our nation so that no one can harm our people.”
Trump also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he warned of the risk of “World War III” if he does not win November’s election.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
