Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that he believes Israel should strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in response to the recent missile barrage from the Islamic Republic. Speaking at a campaign event in North Carolina, Trump criticised President Joe Biden’s stance on the issue.
At the event in Fayetteville, Trump referenced a question posed to Biden earlier this week regarding whether the U.S. would support Israel in striking Iran’s nuclear programme. Biden had responded by stating, “The answer is no,” indicating opposition to such strikes.
Trump disagreed, telling the audience, “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to hit? I mean, it’s the biggest risk we have, nuclear weapons,” He argued that hitting Iran’s nuclear sites should be the priority if Israel were to take action. “When they asked him that question, the answer should have been, hit the nuclear first, and worry about the rest later,” Trump said, adding, “If they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it. But we’ll find out whatever their plans are.”
The remarks come as tensions rise in the Middle East following Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and growing fears over the potential for regional escalation. Israel has killed over 40,000 in Gaza and several thousand in Lebanon.
Biden, when asked earlier in the week, had affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself but urged for proportional responses to the threat. “We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what they’re going to do,” Biden said, emphasising a balanced approach in coordination with other G7 nations.
Trump, engaged in a tight presidential race against Vice President Kamala Harris, has previously criticised Biden and Harris for their handling of international crises, including the recent tensions in the Middle East.