In the waning days of the Biden administration, President-elect Trump opposes his predecessor’s ‘don’t do’ doctrine as a deterrent to foreign adversaries, instead issuing stark warnings before even taking power.
“If the hostages are not released by January 20, 2025, the date I proudly assume office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrate this have committed atrocities against Humanity,” Trump warned Hamas on his Truth Social account on Monday.
“Everyone is talking about it the hostages that are being held so violent, inhumane and against the will of the entire world in the Middle East – but it’s all talk and no action!” Trump added.
On October 7, 2023, war broke out in the Middle East when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. Terrorists have kidnapped more than 200 people from Israel, while Hamas continues to hold 101 hostages, including seven Americans, in Gaza. than a year after the start of the war.
Newly elected President Trump and President Biden (Getty Images)
The White House and the Israeli government have worked for months to reach an agreement on the release of hostages, but have failed to do so.
Trump’s harsh language against Hamas, including warning those responsible for holding the hostages that they “will be hit harder than anyone in the long and storied history of the United States of America,” is in stark contrast with President Biden’s ‘donor’. ‘t’ doctrine on the war in Israel.
After the war started last year, Biden made comments from Israel where he warned opponents of Israel and the US “not” to attack Israel.
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“And my message to any state or other hostile actor considering attacking Israel remains the same as it was a week ago: don’t. Don’t. Don’t do that,” he said.
Despite the warning, the war continued, including by Iranian allies against Israel.
Israeli military vehicles are seen in the town of Kiryat Shmona, near the country’s border with Lebanon, on Wednesday, November 27. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
This year, Biden doubled down on his “don’t do it” warning against Iran. When reporters asked him about Iran’s expectations to attack Israel in April, he said his message to Tehran is: “Don’t.”
“We are committed to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” he added.
In August, Biden again warned Iran against attacking Israel with a one-word threat.
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Biden’s usual response to deter foreign adversaries of attacking Israel is seen as a failed policy, with conservative security experts and others labeling the message as weak.
“The administration continues to say ‘don’t do it’ to Iran – but then does nothing to impose costs. This weakness means the risk from Iran continues to grow,” former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted in August.
President Biden speaks to reporters outside St. Edmond’s Roman Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Saturday, August 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
“Well, he said ‘don’t do it’ several times, and ‘don’t do it’ is not national security policy,” Pompeo added in a response to Fox News later this year. “It’s not even a deterrent.
“As far as President Biden telling bad guys ‘don’t do it,’ this is actually an effective deterrent. Every time he says ‘don’t,’ they do too,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote in a post in April , after Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel.
“Biden’s approach to Iran and the Middle East is backwards,” said Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. wrote about X. “As we risk entering World War III, the US must uphold Israel’s commitment to democracy. The president must remain steadfast, and stop coddling Iran immediately.”
“I think Biden’s speechwriters are now limiting him to one word. At least he can remember. Worse, when he refers to the hospital massacre, he calls Hamas the other team,” Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld joked after war broke out in Israel last year. , in which he mocked Biden’s use of the word “don’t.”
Former President Trump gestures as he walks onto the stage for a campaign rally on October 12, 2024 in Coachella, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Trump had campaigned on ending the wars in both Ukraine and Israel, both of which began under the Biden administration, claiming that neither war would have been launched if he had been president.
“The situation in Ukraine is so terrible, the situation in Israel is so terrible. We are going to solve them very quickly,” Trump said during his campaign in January.
Israeli officials celebrated Trump’s tough stance on terrorists in the Middle East and his demand that hostages be released next month.
“Thank you and blessed, Mr. President-elect,” President Isaac Herzog of Israel said in a social media post. “We are all praying for the moment when we see our sisters and brothers back home!”
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The country’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added: “How refreshing it is to hear clear and morally responsible statements that do not create a false equivalence or call for appealing to ‘both sides’. This is the way to bring back the hostages: by increasing the pressure and costs on Hamas and its supporters, and defeating them, rather than giving in to their absurd demands.”
Trump will be inaugurated as the country’s 47th president on January 20, with his team celebrating the fact that he has already fulfilled his campaign promises.
“President Trump is working for international peace. In anticipation of the incoming Trump administration, Iran has called off its retaliatory attack on Israel and negotiations to end the war in Gaza and Russia’s war in Ukraine have accelerated. A former NATO Supreme Allied Commander says America’s enemies are ‘worried, they’re nervous – (and) they should be,’” the Trump War Room said this week in an email titled: “Promises kept – and President Trump hasn’t even been there. Yet to be inaugurated.”
