Democrats and Republicans were angered by former President Donald Trump’s remarks in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday night, during which he called Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, “very smart.”
Trump offered his opinions on the Hamas attack on Israel and Hezbollah’s recent entrance into the conflict.
“You know, Hezbollah is very smart,” said Trump. “They’re all very smart.”
Trump also criticized the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to recognize the threat from Hamas.
Officials on both sides of the aisle condemned the former president.
“Statements like this are dangerous and unhinged,” said Andrew Bates, deputy White House press secretary, in a statement. “It’s completely lost on us why any American would ever praise an Iran-backed terrorist organization as ‘smart.’ Or have any objection to the United States warning terrorists not to attack Israel.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Trump’s top rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, spoke out on the issue.
“You’re not going to find me throwing verbal grenades at Israeli leadership,” DeSantis said on X, formerly Twitter.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), who is also running against Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, condemned his remarks, as well.
“Shame on you, Donald,” Hutchinson wrote on X. “Your constant compliments to dictators, terrorist groups and evil-doers are beneath the office you seek and not reflective of the American character.”
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) also disagreed with the former president, saying that he would not describe Hezbollah or Hamas as “smart.”
“I’d call them barbaric,” he said. “I’d call them inhumane. I’d call it unthinkable. But what Hezbollah and Hamas have done, but I don’t think I’d characterize them in any positive fashion — not when you see this incredible ability to conduct the atrocities that most of us would find as unthinkable and unimaginable.”
