Donald Trump Brushes Off Questions About Trip to Israel: ‘I’m Not Traditional’
Donald Trump Image by Getty Images
Donald Trump brushed off questions about whether he will travel to Israel before Election Day.
The Republican presidential candidate insisted at a Wednesday press conference that he would not necessarily follow in the footsteps of other White House hopefuls who have journeyed to Israel.
“It’s a tradition, but I’m not traditional,” said Trump. “I don’t know, I haven’t set my schedule.”
In May, Trump said he was planning a trip to Israel, and as recently as last month campaign sources told New York Magazine that the candidate was planning an Israel trip prior to the Republican National Convention.
However, Trump has not visited Israel since he declared his candidacy last year.
At the press conference, Trump argued that while he would like to go to Israel, he already has a strong relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Before moving on to other questions, Trump slammed President Obama for not being a strong enough supporter of the Jewish state and emphasized that he stands with Israel “100%.”
However, Trump canceled a trip to Israel to meet with Netanyahu last December after the Israeli Prime Minister publicly condemned Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims. Instead, Trump tweeted that he would meet with Netanyahu “after I become President.”
I have decided to postpone my trip to Israel and to schedule my meeting with @Netanyahu at a later date after I become President of the U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2015
In March, a survey revealed strong support for Trump among Israeli Jews, with one in four saying they would vote for him. But another poll by Israel’s Channel 2 last month showed Israeli support of Trump trailing that of Clinton by seven points.
GOP candidate Mitt Romney traveled to Israel in 2012 as the Republican party candidate as part of a relationship-building trip with foreign leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Accompanied by megadonor Sheldon Adelson, who has yet to financially back Trump as promised, Romney attended fundraisers filled with wealthy American-Israelis in addition to meeting with Netanyahu and dining at the official residence.
Contact Drew Gerber at gerber@forward.com or on Twitter, @dagerber
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