Donald Trump's recent speech in the wake of Hamas' terror attack against Israel – in which where he praised Hezbollah as "very smart" – has riled both Republicans and Democrats alike.
According to The Atlantic's David A. Graham, Trump's comments have prompted some to ask if he's pro-Israel or anti-Israel -- but he wrote, that question misses the point.
"Trump has no true allies or ideological commitments. He is reactive, driven by personal grievance, knee-jerk contrarianism, and admiration for strength and violence," Graham wrote. "In this case, that means bearing an old grudge against Netanyahu, opposing whatever Joe Biden is doing, and being impressed by the ruthlessness of Hamas’s attacks."
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
Now, after Trump's Hezbollah praise went viral, President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have formed the strongest alliance the two nations have had in decades, and Trump's political rivals, including his 2024 opponent Ron DeSantis, are joining forces with the White House to attack him.
"The contrast here is not that Netanyahu is good or that Biden’s policy is necessarily wise. It’s that Biden’s reaction is driven by a coherent and consistent worldview and approach to policy and Trump’s is driven by pettiness."
While Netanyahu has clashed with presidents in the past, for him to take an adversarial stance towards Biden at this moment in history would be "statecraft malpractice," writes Graham.
READ MORE: Trump's 'overplayed' witch hunt claims may have destroyed best chance with jurors: experts
"That’s especially true at a time of war, such as now. But Trump seems to want Netanyahu to spurn Biden, the actual president, in favor of himself, a private citizen with real legal troubles and a history of electoral struggles."
Read the full op-ed over at The Atlantic.
