Former President Donald Trump has suggested that a potential defeat in the 2024 election could lead to a significant escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, possibly even culminating in a third World War. Trump's comments were made during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort on July 26.
Trump's remarks came after Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington, D.C., where he met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Following his address to Congress, Netanyahu traveled to Florida to confer with Trump.
During the meeting, Trump expressed concern over Vice President Harris’s stance on Middle Eastern issues, particularly in relation to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Trump criticized Harris as being less effective on these matters, stating, "We'll see how it goes. But if it all works out, if we win, it'll be very simple. It's all going to work out. And very quickly."
He warned that failure to secure his victory could lead to "major wars in the Middle East" and possibly a third World War, asserting, "You are closer to a third World War right now than at any time since the Second World War. We've never been so close because we have incompetent people running the country."
These comments come amid a reported diplomatic rift between Harris and Netanyahu. After their meeting, Harris voiced strong concerns about the humanitarian impact of the Gaza conflict, calling for an end to the violence and the release of hostages held by Hamas. Her remarks reportedly displeased Netanyahu, who has maintained that military actions must continue until Hamas is defeated.
Netanyahu responded to Harris's comments by emphasizing Israel's ongoing efforts to secure a cease-fire, hoping that the U.S. remains steadfast in its support. "We're trying to get one. And I think, to the extent that Hamas understands that there's no daylight between Israel and the United States, that expedites the deal. And I hope that those comments don't change that," Netanyahu said.
The meeting at Mar-a-Lago marked Netanyahu's first face-to-face encounter with Trump since the latter left office in 2020. Relations between Trump and Netanyahu had been strained after Netanyahu publicly congratulated Biden on his election victory, leading Trump to criticize the Israeli leader.
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