NEW YORK – The bond between Israel and the United States will be “stronger and closer than it ever was before,” former president Donald Trump said on Monday night during an October 7 remembrance event he hosted at his Miami club – but only “if and when” he wins the election.
Mega GOP donor Miriam Adelson introduced Trump, echoing the former president’s frequent claim that October 7 wouldn’t have happened with Trump in the White House.
“Hamas would not have dared, Hezbollah would not have dared, the Houthis would not have dared – and yes, the Ayatollah of Iran would never have dared – because even they understand when they are faced with a real courage,” she said. “They can spot a strong leader who will make their lives hell if they get out of line.”
If he doesn’t win the election, there’s tremendous consequences for “everything,” Trump said.
“You know, I say that November 5 will be the most important day in the history of our country,” he said. “I think it will also be the most important day in the history of Israel. If you want to know the truth, I believe that. I think you believe that, too.”
GOP free of antisemitism
Trump went on to say that the Republican Party has not been infected by the “horrible disease” of antisemitism – and that it “hopefully won’t be” as long as he’s in charge.
He didn’t condemn right-wing antisemitism, however.
Antisemitic bigotry has no place in a civilized society, in universities, or in the United States, Trump said.What is needed more than ever is a return of unwavering American leadership and unquestioned American strength, the presidential candidate said.
“We were strong; we were powerful. We were respected like this country has not been respected in many, many decades, just four years ago. That’s what I intend to deliver as the 47th president of the United States. We’re going to deliver everything that we want,” Trump said.
“And we will have peace in the Middle East. We will have strength and resilience, and we will have a very powerful and strong Israel,” he said. “And I will be with you all the way.”
Earlier on Monday, Trump visited the grave (Ohel) of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, one of the most influential rabbis in modern history and former leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
"October 7th is undoubtedly one of the saddest days in the modern history of Israel and the Jewish people. Spending the day with President Trump, who chose to spend today visiting the gravesite of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson to show his support for the Jewish people and to pray for the return of the hostages, was incredibly powerful," Elizabeth Pipko, Republican National Committee Spokeswoman, said to The Post in a statement.
"Whether at the Ohel at the beginning of the day or in the evening at the remembrance event for those who were taken from us a year ago, President Trump delivered the most resolute and reassuring message to all fighting against the enemies of Israel abroad and combating antisemitism at home," she added.
The former president was accompanied at the Ohel by his daughter and RNC co-chair Lara Trump, Chabad leadership as well as the family of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and 94-year-old Auschwitz survivor Jerry Wartski.
The Trump campaign also invited Jewish student activists Shabbos Kestenbaum and Eyal Yacoby, conservative media pundit Ben Shapiro, former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Trump directly invited Blakeman to attend the Ohel with him in a phone call on Sunday, a spokesperson for Blakeman told The Jerusalem Post.
Kestenbaum said the Trump campaign wanted the former president to hear directly from Jewish students about what the last year has been like on campus.
He said the Trump campaign has held four events with Jewish students in the last two months alone, and alleged that Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign has refused his and other Jewish students' requests to meet.
"It’s always an honor to be with the former President. His support for us Jewish students, unwavering commitment to the American hostages and peace through strength ideology is what attracted me to the campaign," Kestenbaum told The Post.
The Post has reached out to Harris's campaign regarding Kestenbaum's allegations.