Former President Donald Trump started his rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, with remarks that the Iranian attack on Israel on Saturday would not be occurring if he were still president.
“I want to say God bless the people of Israel — they’re under attack right now,” he said as he began his rally, taking place ahead of Pennsylvania’s primary on April 23.
“That’s because we show great weakness — this would not happen. The great weakness that we’ve shown is unbelievable, and it would not have happened if we were in office. You know that, they know that, everybody knows that.”
“But America prays for Israel. We send our absolute support to everyone in harm’s way. This is an attack that would not have happened,” he added. “I will revive American strength abroad, and we will restore American strength at home.”
“ISRAEL IS UNDER ATTACK!” Trump had posted earlier in the day on his Truth Social platform. “This should never have been allowed to happen – This would NEVER have happened if I were President!”
Trump and Biden have each become the presumptive nominees of their respective parties and are headed for a rematch in November.
Biden had returned to Washington, D.C., from Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, on Saturday earlier than expected to meet in the White House Situation Room with national security advisers that afternoon.
“President Biden is being regularly updated on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. “His team is in constant communication with Israeli officials as well as other partners and allies.”
The first drones were expected to reach Israel around 2 a.m. local time, or 7 p.m. Eastern time.
“This attack is likely to unfold over a number of hours,” Watson added. “President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran.”
On Friday, the president told reporters his “expectation is sooner than later” that Iran would attack Israel, but he did not provide specifics.
“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” Biden added Friday afternoon. “We will support Israel and help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed.”
