Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday in their first face-to-face encounter since the former president left the White House more than three years ago.
The former president greeted Mr. Netanyahu and his wife at his private residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
Mr. Trump gave brief statements to the media, saying he was “very good to Israel” and more so than any other president. He also said he terminated the Iran nuclear deal when he was in office but the Biden administration “didn’t do anything about it,” adding that the United States did not give any money to Iran and “nobody was buying their oil” under his watch.
The former president also expressed criticism of his new rival, presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
The 45th president has previously called for a quick end to the war against Hamas terrorists and said that the war would have never happened under his watch.
“During my first term, we had Peace and Stability in the Region, even signing the historic Abraham Accords—and we will have it again,” the former president wrote in a post on Truth Social ahead of their meeting.
“Just as I have said in discussions with President Zelensky and other World Leaders in recent weeks, my PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH agenda will demonstrate to the world that these horrible, deadly Wars, and violent Conflicts must end,” he wrote.
Former President Trump, ahead of their meeting, also posted a letter from Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas that expressed concern over his attempted assassination.
“Mahmoud. So nice. Thank you. Everything will be good. Best wishes,” former President Trump wrote in a handwritten note on the letter.
Mr. Netanyahu also met with Vice President Kamala Harris the day before for the first time since she launched her presidential campaign. He met separately with President Joe Biden at the White House in their first encounter since the Israel-Hamas war erupted.
Mr. Netanyahu’s visit to the United States was marked with protests near the Capitol as pro-Palestine demonstrators marched and gathered during his speech to a joint session of Congress.
“Incredibly, many anti-Israel protesters, many choose to stand with evil,” Mr. Netanyahu said in his speech.
Mr. Netanyahu’s visit to the United States also comes after President Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Ms. Harris as his replacement. Meanwhile, former President Trump has welcomed a debate against his new rival and continues on the campaign trail after he survived an attempted assassination.