Israel’s prime minister-elect has called Donald Trump’s dinner with anti-Semite Kanye West and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes “wrong, wrong and out of place”.
Benjamin Netanyahu, who is supposed to return to office after elections earlier this month, praised the former president for being “pro-Israel,” but said he should not repeat the mistake in the future.
Trump has said repeatedly that he only knows after the fact that he had dinner with Nick Fuentes, a far-right activist who uses his online platform to make anti-Semitic and white nationalist rhetoric. Other reports said Trump was “very taken” with Fuentes during the impromptu dinner at his home in Mar-a-Lago.
Fuentes arrived by car with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who in recent weeks has nearly decimated his reputation as a musician and fashion giant by making a series of anti-Semitic comments and sharing baseless conspiracy theories.
Israeli Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu (left) called Donald Trump’s dinner (pictured right) with anti-Semite Kanye West and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes “wrong, wrong and out of place”
“I think that’s what I would say about President Trump’s decision to have dinner with this person, which I think is wrong and inappropriate,” Netanyahu told journalist Bari Weiss in an article published Wednesday in her newsletter.
‘I think it’s wrong.’ Netanyahu added: He should not do that.
It was not immediately clear who the future Israeli prime minister was referring to when he said “this person”. He also condemned West’s recent statements about the Jewish people.
Despite the meeting, Netanyahu made it clear that he still appreciates Trump, who has made a number of policy decisions friendly to Israel during his time in office.
These steps included moving the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, ending the Iran nuclear deal, recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, and defunding Palestinian groups — among other steps.
“He was a tremendous supporter of Israel, and I unabashedly appreciate what he’s done for Israel,” Netanyahu told Lewis.
I appreciate everything that does not detract from it. Also, you know, he was very supportive of the Jewish people. So I think he made a mistake. I hope it won’t happen again. That’s all I can tell you. Weiss asked Netanyahu to describe Trump as one. Choose “irreverent”.
Trump has said repeatedly that he only knows after the fact that he had dinner with Nick Fuentes (pictured in 2017 sitting in front of a Trump flag), a far-right activist who uses his online platform to make anti-Semitic and white nationalist rhetoric.
Fuentes arrived by car with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West (pictured), who in recent weeks has nearly decimated his reputation as a musician and fashion giant by making a series of anti-Semitic comments and sharing baseless conspiracy theories
Reportedly, Trump became enraged after having dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, with West and Fuentes. The former Fox News chief said on Tuesday he did not know who Fuentes was, and distanced himself from his racism after a growing number of Republicans asked him to do so.
“I had never heard of the man — I had no idea what his opinions were, nor were they expressed at the table at our very quick dinner, or he would not have accepted,” he told the news network. Trump described the meeting as “quiet”.
In a video released after the meeting, West, who has suffered from the scandal, said he told Trump he was considering running for president in 2024 and that the former president should be his running mate. In his Twitter video titled “Mar-a-lago,” the rapper said Trump, who announced his offer to the White House two weeks ago, was “basically yelling.”
He tried to have sex with me. he’s crazy. After the controversial dinner, Trump reportedly told allies he couldn’t beat me NBC News.
An adviser told the outlet that Trump was “completely shocked” by the “prep” dinner.
The dinner drew a torrent of criticism from both sides, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell who said it might kill Trump’s chances of running for president in 2024.
Two people familiar with the dinner told NBC News that Trump was warned to be careful before accepting a meeting with the West amid widespread backlash over anti-Semitic posts made on Instagram and Twitter — leading to top sponsors like Adidas, Gap and Balenciaga dropping him.
As a result, his net worth decreased. West, who was worth about $1.5 billion before the controversy, is worth about $400 million now.
“This is a nightmare,” said a longtime Trump adviser who spoke to him NBC Anonymous news after dinner.
The source went on to say that they were concerned that the meeting could affect Trump’s chances of accepting the Republican nomination in 2024.
Pictured: Trump and Kanye West meet at the White House in 2018
Netanyahu (pictured speaking last month) made clear in the interview that he still appreciates Trump, who has made a number of policy decisions friendly to Israel during his time in the Oval Office.
Throughout the interview, Netanyahu seemed eager to reassure Joe Biden’s administration in the White House and Jews living in the United States about the next Israeli government, which extremist parties are likely to support.
He stressed that he would be the one who decides the government’s policy, and that he would not take steps that would further inflame tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. On Thursday, the Israeli army killed two Palestinian activists in a raid Thursday morning on a restive town in the occupied West Bank.
Jenin and the nearby city of Nablus have seen intense military operations since a series of Palestinian street attacks in Israeli cities in March.
Netanyahu also stressed that his government would preserve Israel’s democracy, amid fears that he might try to hide his years-long legal troubles with new legislation introduced by his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies.
Critics say such a legal crackdown is an assault on Israel’s democracy.
Netanyahu, 73, who is on trial for corruption, is likely to be backed by a loyal and comfortable ruling majority that could give him a lifeline from conviction.