Former President Donald Trump’s unprovoked attack on former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is raising serious questions about whether Trump can lead the nation effectively on the world stage if he runs for president again in 2014.
Though he emphasized that he still supported Israel, regardless of his anger toward Netanyahu, Trump said he resented Israel’s former leader for recognizing Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election after the networks called it.
Trump also said that he had not spoken to Netanyahu since then, and implied that if Netanyahu had supported him, other world leaders might have followed, and he would have stood a chance at contesting the election results more effectively.
Essentially, Trump said that Netanyahu ought to have interfered with an American election, and jeopardized his country’s relationship with the United States, in return for the help Trump gave Israel in general and to Netanyahu in particular.
Netanyahu responded without escalating the fight, noting that as Israel’s leader, he had no choice but to congratulate Biden. Left unsaid was that he was worried about the anti-Israel turn of the Democratic Party and could not afford to alienate it.
There is a chance that Trump could win in 2024 — and that Netanyahu could return as prime minister of Israel. That could have been an opportunity for renewed, stronger ties — but Trump has now placed that relationship in an awkward position.
Trump fans are alarmed that he continues to sit down with establishment media outlets and left-leaning reporters, such as Axios’ Barak Ravid, who broke the story of Trump’s attack on Netanyahu.
In the past, such outlets did nothing but attempt to undermine Trump’s presidency, and yet he seemed desperate for coverage by the likes of the New York Times. The fact that the pattern has continued suggests that he has learned little from the experience, despite his opposition to the “fake news.”
Pro-Israel advocates are also worried that Trump, in his recent remarks, seemed to accuse Netanyahu of trying to avoid a peace deal with Palestinians, while crediting Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas for wanting one.
Not only is that statement untrue, but it suggests a future Trump administration could actually be more pro-Palestinian, out of spite.
Several other Republican hopefuls could run in 2024, and Trump has just given them material to make a case against him.
https://www.axios.com/trump-netanyahu-disloyalty-fuck-him-276ac6cc-3f70-4fba-b315-c82a59603e67.html
This is the final edition of THE AGENDA -- finished a few days early!
This week's portion elucidates some of the first laws and principles of the Torah that follow the Ten Commandments, including -- a message particularly relevant to freed slaves -- the Jewish restrictions on indentured servitude.
God also provides the basic civil laws of Jewish society, governing almost every area of life -- in this one portion! -- as well as several basic principles of faith and religious observance. Moses then ascends Sinai for 40 days.
One of the laws God gives is the law against taunting a foreigner. This is different from allowing people to enter your land illegally; it is about showing respect, however, for people from other lands and other groups.
I am reminded of the importance of this principle because of the rhetoric lately attacking Elon Musk, a fellow South African-turned-American, for his foreign roots -- often by people who favor illegal immigration, ironically.
...
Since the Palisades Fire on January 7, my posts have been fairly sparse. I have just been so busy -- fighting the fire, covering the fire, helping neighbors, and launching a new podcast, "Three Homeless Guys," with two local friends.
Things are up and down. My family is still displaced, and we haven't resolved our living situation. We are awaiting answers from the insurance company (State Farm) on what they will cover, including alternative living expenses.
There are some incredible opportunities opening up -- more on that later -- and our kids are generally doing well, though this has been hard for them as well (especially the two middle kids, who miss their friends and their house).
The emotion of it all hit me yesterday. Today I feel wrung out. But I also feel that, in a way, going through the fire has been a process of refinement, of re-casting in a new mould, to face new challenges. And to win each new day.
So much to talk about, once again, as the Trump administration continues at breakneck pace. From DOGE chewing through the federal bureaucracy, to Marco Rubio heading out on his first missions for Trump, there's so much...
Special guests:
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio -- on the L.A. fires and reforming CA insurance
Matt Boyle -- Breitbart News political editor, on DOGE and confirmations
Jamie Paige -- founder of the Westside Current, on L.A. politics and the fires
Frances Martel -- Breitbart News foreign editor, on Rubio and Russia/Ukraine
Rob Hersov -- South African commentator, on SA's fight with the White House
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
