Politics

Trump urges Israel to take out Iran nuclear facilities, rips Biden for urging Jewish state to show restraint

By
Jon Levine
Published Oct. 5, 2024, 9:39 a.m. ET
Trump urges Israel to take out Iran nuclear facilities, rips Biden for urging Jewish state to show restraint
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Former President Trump urged Israel to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities, and blasted President Biden for urging the Jewish state to exercise restraint.

“I listened to Biden yesterday … they asked him, what do you think about Iran, would you hit Iran and he goes ‘as long as they don’t hit the nuclear stuff.'” Trump said Friday. “That’s the thing you want to hit, right?”

Smoke rising from buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, hit in an overnight Israeli airstrike on October 3, 2024.
Smoke rising from buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs, hit in an overnight Israeli airstrike on October 3, 2024. AFP via Getty Images

“I think he’s got that one wrong, isn’t that the one you’re supposed to hit,” Trump continued. “It’s the biggest risk we have, nuclear weapons.”

Trump made the remarks during a Q&A session with voters in Fayetteville, NC. The former president has been campaigning in the area and taking part in relief efforts after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, as Republican presidential nominee, listening to a question from the audience during a town hall-style campaign event in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Former President Trump urged Israel to take our Iran’s nuclear facilities. Getty Images
Residents walking in front of a smouldering building levelled by an overnight Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs
Iran launched 200 missiles into Israel earlier this week. AFP via Getty Images
Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepting rockets in the sky above Ashkelon, Israel on October 1, 2024
The only death in the attack was a Palestinian man who was crushed by the fuselage of an intercepted missile, according to officials. REUTERS

Earlier this week Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles into Israel. The rockets were mostly shot out of the sky by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. The only death in the attack was a Palestinian man in the West Bank who was crushed by the fuselage of an intercepted missile.

Israel has vowed retaliation and has received President Biden’s blessing to do so — but the Biden-Harris administration has included its customary demands for restraint, with Biden warning Israel not to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“The answer is no,” Biden said emphatically Wednesday. “We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what they are going to do.”