Trump signals support in call with Netanyahu: 'Do what you have to do'

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Trump signals support in call with Netanyahu: ‘Do what you have to do’
Trump offers Israel his backing in wars with Hamas and Hezbollah even as his campaign seeks Arab American votes.

9 min


President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office after signing a presidential proclamation on Golan Heights on March 25, 2019. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

By Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, John Hudson and Michael Birnbaum
October 25, 2024 at 2:50 p.m. EDT

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump expressed support for Israel’s offensives against Hamas and Hezbollah in a recent call with the country’s prime minister — a position that could complicate his campaign’s outreach to Arab Americans claiming he opposes the war.

Trump told Benjamin Netanyahu in one call this month, “Do what you have to do,” according to six people familiar with the conversation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive and confidential information. Trump has said publicly that the two have spoken at least twice in October, with one call as recently as Oct. 19.

“He didn’t tell him what to do militarily, but he expressed that he was impressed by the pagers,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), who was on a call this month with Trump and Netanyahu, referring to the Israeli operation that killed Hezbollah leaders with explosive batteries inside pagers. “He expressed his awe for their military operations and what they have done.”

Graham added: “He told them, do what you have to do to defend yourself, but we’re openly talking about a new Mideast. Trump understands that very much there has to be change with the corrupt Palestinian state.”

{snip}

Ellen Nakashima and Isaac Stanley-Becker contributed to this report.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/25/trump-netanyahu-support-gaza-lebanon/

[brush]

1. Kill at will, Bibi.

[SunSeeker]

2. And yet Michigan Muslims are "split" on who to vote for!

"Michigan Arabs and Muslims deeply split over supporting Harris." https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/10/24/kamala-harris-arab-american-muslims-michigan/

[NCDem47]

3. I just don't understand why this is being allowed to happen.

Sure, as two people, they can speak freely. But NOT discussing strategy.

You know the call is being listened to. Like two mob bosses, they probably just barely skirt anything ouright illegal or talk in code. I mean, Biden really can't do anything, especailly this close to election. But after Kamla's hand leaves that Bible after she is sworn in---Netanyahu need some tough love and straight talkin' to to find middle ground. He has made his point and flexed his muscle enough.

We just don't need The Orange One in the mix of this. AT ALL.

[slightlv]

9. They're talking policy here...

this isn't a "oh, how cute your granddaughter has become" kind of phone call. This is expressly against the law... the Logan Act. He is purporting to be representing the American interests, but we only have ONE president at a time, and that president ISN'T Trump. Charge him, arrest him, and lock him up... just as you would any of us plebes who would dare to violate any of the government acts, such as the Logan Act or the Hatch Act or the Classified Security acts.

While Prez and VP are trying to thread the needle diplomatically, trump is cutting them off at the knees. This has GOT to stop. Someone needs to tell him he is NOT the president, and it's against the law to go around pretending to be a government official, especially pretending to be the president!

[TomCADem]

4. Perhaps This Is Why Harris Has Lost Support By Some Arab Americans?

Sort of like how the Teamsters declined to endorse Harris even though Democrats saved their pensions while Trump has been anti-union?

Perhaps some groups will support a bully of a bully is really cruel. In other words, you beat someone up so much that you submit like Teamster President O’Brien. Likewise, campaign on plans to reform Medicare and social security by abolishing them to gain the senior vote.

Or, perhaps are so plugged into their social media feeds that reality does not matter anymore.

[Clouds Passing]

5. Logan Act, Merrick!

[durablend]

8. He's asleep right now sorry.

Try back in a few weeks (or months)

[wolfie001]

6. That's for you, phony-ass mf'er jill stein nt

[rogue emissary]

7. Yet few or none are calling Felon34, genocide don.

[slightlv]

10. Go after Lindsey Graham for aiding and abetting the violation of the Logan Act.

We have to rein in these republicans and make them stay in their own lanes, once again. Gods, I remember when you couldn't even criticize the president if you were overseas. Now, they do everything they can do to diminish and demean not only the president, but our country, itself.

[sakabatou]

11. I wonder how many Muslim-Americans would STILL vote for Trump after this