As President Biden projects strong, steady leadership on the world stage amidst conflict in the Middle East, here’s your reminder that 2024 Republicans’ claim of standing with Israel falls apart when you take a look at their records. 

In the wake of global tragedy, Donald Trump praised a terrorist organization as “very smart,” and criticized our ally – continuing to show how his unhinged approach to foreign policy embarrasses the U.S. on the world stage and endangers our allies. Amid the backlash to his praise for terrorists, Trump doubled down. 

New York Times: “Former President Donald J. Trump drew scorn from both sides of the political aisle on Thursday for remarks that he made one day earlier criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and referring to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, as ‘very smart.’

“During a speech to his supporters in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, he weighed in on the Hamas attacks on Israel, the worst experienced by America’s closest Middle East ally in half a century.”

Washington Post: “Former president Donald Trump on Friday revived a two-week-old controversy over his description of Hezbollah terrorist attackers as ‘very smart,’ posting a column on social media that sought to defend his characterization of the group.”

Let’s not forget: Trump once called for Israel, a staunch ally, to pay for its defense aid. 

Times of Israel: “Trump says he’ll make Israel pay for defense aid”

“Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Monday he believes Israel should pay for defense aid it receives from the US, hours before he was slated to give a speech at the pro-Israel AIPAC policy conference.”

Tim Scott pretends to support Israel on the trail, but he missed a Senate vote on supporting Israel to schmooze with Wall Street executives in a desperate attempt to save his failing presidential campaign. 

The Hill: “The Senate voted unanimously Thursday afternoon, 97-0, in favor of a resolution stating the Senate stands firmly with Israel and firmly against Hamas.”

Not voting: Tim Scott

Bloomberg: “A group of prominent attorneys and Wall Street executives will host a fundraiser in New York next month for US Senator Tim Scott … The lunch, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19 in midtown Manhattan, will be hosted by One Equity Partners LLC’s Chip Schorr, Sabin Metal Corp. owner Andrew Sabin, Brown-Forman Corp.’s Matt Hamel and Eric Levine of Eiseman Levine Lehrhaupt & Kakoyiannis, P.C.”
In the wake of the deadly terrorist attack on Israel, Ramaswamy used antisemitic tropes to downplay the attack on our ally. 

Mediaite: “GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy used an anti-Semitic trope to explain the Republican Party’s concern for Israel in the wake of a terrorist attack by Hamas that left hundreds dead and saw others kidnapped and raped over the weekend. During an interview with Tucker Carlson on Tuesday, Ramaswamy lamented that his competition for the nomination were ‘ignoring the interests of the U.S. right here at home’ as well as other conflicts around the world.”

Mediaite: “His explanation for what he implied was a ‘shameful’ and disproportionate focus on the rape, kidnapping, and murder of Jew for the crime of being Jews was ‘that there are, frankly, financial and corrupting influences that lead them exactly to speak the way they do.’

“‘That’s just the hard truth,’ added Ramaswamy who said that the reaction to the death and destruction in Israel reflected a ‘selective moral outrage.’”

In light of the terrorist attack against Israel, Ramaswamy doubled down on his calls to pause aid to our critical ally. 

Politico: “Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday suggested the U.S. should not provide more military aid to Israel until the government can outline what happens after invading Gaza.
“‘The U.S. should be clear with Israel that further U.S. support is contingent on Israel identifying clear objectives for success in Gaza and a coherent plan for what comes after toppling Hamas even if Israel is successful in doing so. As of now, these critical questions remain unanswered,’ he said.”

Haaretz: “Vivek Ramaswamy, in Favor of Ending Israel Aid, Opposes U.S. Military Force Against Iran”

Washington Free Beacon: “Ramaswamy: Cut Off Aid to Israel After 2028”

The Jerusalem Post: “US must reduce aid given to Israel, Republican candidate Ramaswamy says”

The Hill: “[Ramaswamy] has said that he would negotiate an Abraham Accords 2.0 that he contended would incorporate Israel into the rest of the Middle East such that it wouldn’t be necessary to continue providing aid to the country after 2028.”

And a slate of 2024 Republicans are still supporting Senator Tommy Tuberville’s shameful military blockade, which is stalling hundreds of promotions and undermining military readiness as our ally asks for support. 

Alabama Today: “U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville to introduce President Donald Trump in Montgomery on Friday”

AL.com: “Former President Donald Trump praised Tuberville over the votes on Truth Social:

‘BIG WIN FOR TOMMY. Unlike McConnell and his group of automatic Democrat YES VOTES, Tommy T is willing to take on the Radical Left Fascists & Thugs that are destroying our Country. What a difference!’”

Florida Politics: “Ron DeSantis backs Tommy Tuberville in ongoing skirmish with Senate”

Mika Brzezinski: “Do you think that Senator Tuberville should lift the blockade that he’s put on military promotions?”

DeSantis: “No.”

Brian Kilmeade: “So you’re with Tuberville?”

Tim Scott: “He is right on his issue.”

HuffPost: “GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley took aim at the Defense Department for beginning a policy at the center of Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) hold on 300-plus military promotions in the Senate.”