Please subscribe to Fox News to access this content
You’ve reached the maximum number of articles. To continue reading, please log in or create a free account.
By entering your email address and pressing “Continue”, you agree to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, including the Financial Incentive Notice.
Please enter a valid email address.
Having problems? Click here.
Former President Trump claimed on Friday that a loss in the 2024 election could escalate the Middle East conflict into World War III.
The Republican presidential candidate made these remarks during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago villa. Netanyahu traveled to Florida to meet with Trump after meeting with President Biden and Democratic front-runner Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington DC earlier this week, following his address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said Harris was a “lesser player” on the Middle East and argued that the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could escalate into a broader regional conflict if she succeeded Biden. Biden announced Sunday that he would not seek reelection.
“We’ll see what happens, but if it all works out and we win, it’s very simple: it will all work out, and it will happen quickly,” Trump said. “If it doesn’t work out, we’ll have a major war in the Middle East, and probably World War III. We’ve never been closer to World War III since World War II. We’ve never been closer to it because we have incompetent people running our country.”
Netanyahu to meet with Trump in hopes of repairing ties
President Trump meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Trump’s comments came amid reports of increased diplomatic tensions between Harris and Netanyahu following their meeting on Thursday.
In comments after the meeting, Harris said she told the Israeli prime minister that she would “always ensure that Israel can defend itself against Iran and Iranian-backed militias such as Hamas and Hezbollah.”
“I also conveyed to the prime minister my serious concerns about the extent of people’s suffering in Gaza, in particular the deaths of far too many innocent civilians, and expressed my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation on the ground,” she added, calling for an end to the war and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
According to Axios, Harris’ criticism of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war infuriated Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has repeatedly said the fighting must continue until Hamas is removed, even if the hostages are released.
Asked about Harris’ comments on Friday, Prime Minister Netanyahu told reporters that Israel still wanted a ceasefire agreement.
Netanyahu denies Biden ceasefire proposal: ‘meaningless’ unless all conditions are met
President Trump met in person with Prime Minister Netanyahu for the first time since leaving the White House in 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
“We are looking for an agreement. I think an agreement will come sooner if Hamas understands that there is no rift between Israel and the United States. I hope that today’s comments do not change that,” Netanyahu said.
The Mar-a-Lago meeting was the first time Netanyahu and Trump have met in person since the Republican candidate left the White House in 2020. Relations between the two deteriorated that year after Netanyahu congratulated President-elect Biden on his victory, leading Trump to slam the Israeli leader. “I haven’t spoken to him since,” Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Rabid that year. “Fuck you,” Trump added.
Now Netanyahu is trying to strike a compromise and secure support for Israel in its Gaza war if Republican candidate Trump returns to the White House after the November election.
Biden jokes he was ’12 years old’ when he first met Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir during Netanyahu’s White House visit
Anti-Israel protesters demonstrate as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s motorcade heads to Mar-a-Lago, where he is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on July 26, 2024. (Giorgio Vieira/AFP via Getty Images)
At Trump’s home, the Israeli leader presented him with a photo of one of Bibas’ young children who remains held captive by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Netanyahu said the photo was given to him by the toddler’s grandfather, who asked him to show it to Trump.
“Wow, that’s very moving,” Trump said after receiving the photo. “We’ll deal with it.”
Protesters gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, to greet Netanyahu as he landed, after his visit to the capital earlier this week erupted in pro-Hamas demonstrations marked by anti-Semitic slogans, calls for the annihilation of Israel, vandalism and violent clashes with Washington police.
Speaking in parliament, Netanyahu accused Iran of financing the protests and slammed demonstrators who are demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
‘Chicken for KFC’: Netanyahu slams ceasefire activists in parliament speech while Tlaib protests silently
Netanyahu shared a photo of him and President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on July 26, 2024. (X/@netanyahu)
“To the protesters, I have a message: you have officially become Iran’s useful fools, because you are being praised, promoted and funded by the tyrants in Tehran who hang gays from cranes and kill women for not covering their hair,” Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“Some of the protesters are holding up signs in support of gays in Gaza, which is no different from holding up signs saying ‘chicken for KFC’. Protesters are shouting ‘from the river to the sea’, but they have little idea which river or sea they are referring to.”
The war in Gaza has intensified since Hamas massacred about 1,200 people, including more than 30 Americans, in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas continues to hold more than 100 hostages in Gaza, including eight Americans.
Fox News Digital’s Benjamin Weinthal and Greg Norman contributed to this report.
