But when the GOP hopeful addressed top-line issues for these voters, the crowd’s laughter quickly waned.
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Israel has arrested several people in connection with an arson attack in July that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents in the West Bank village of Duma – a result of an investigation criticized by both Palestinians and a United Nations official for its slow pace. On Libya, he said “if you are serious about regime change”, you’d better have a “significant strategy” to make sure it does not devolve into chaos.
Trump’s lack of specifics but continued success riled one of his opponents, South Carolina Sen. “This room negotiates a lot”. Trump said later. “Probably more than any room I’ve ever spoken”.
Three women mentioned have previously claimed that Bill Clinton sexually assaulted them in some way. “Do me a favor, just relax”, he told one of the people booing. “It was an entertaining thirty minutes”, she added.
As if to underscore the complexity of the political and policy issue, the normally supremely confident Trump suggested that achieving peace in the Middle East may be the ultimate test of his capabilities as a dealmaker. His similar comments Wednesday evening to the Associated Press were condemned by Florida Sen.
Trump was among 14 presidential candidates speaking at Thursday’s forum hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition, an influential group and aggressive supporter of Israel. Marco Rubio, said at the same forum that those calling for more sacrifices from Israel “are dead wrong, and they don’t understand the enduring bond between Israel and America”.
“Stupidly, you want to give me money…you’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money”. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. He added: “I’m going to Israel, and I’ll be meeting with Bibi Netanyahu, who’s a great guy”.
Trump didn’t back off that statement on Thursday, saying that he doesn’t know whether “Israel has the commitment to make (a peace deal) and I don’t know that the other side has the commitment to make it”.
On Thursday, Trump referenced his massive rally Saturday in Sarasota and compared his crowds not to any of his opponents’ – but to musician Elton John’s. The business mogul attempted to sell his vagueness as central to his overall negotiation strategy.
“Some of us renegotiate deals…is there anybody that doesn’t renegotiate deals in this room?”
“There were two candidates that were disrespectful – they never bothered to have a speech to give without reading it”, said Marlyn Appelbaum, a psychologist from Texas.
“‘The Art of Evasion, ‘ that’s going to be his next book”, her husband chimed in.
“I don’t know whether or not they want to go that final step, and that’s going to be up to them, but Israel has not been given the credit that they deserve for what they’ve done”.
“I’m in a different position to the other candidates, because I’m the one candidate – I don’t want any of your money”, Trump said, intervening against himself just 47 seconds in. “Believe me, they haven’t done what I’ve done”.
Let’s not pretend Trump doesn’t know that Hamas and other “Palestinian” groups refuse to recognize Israel, and what that means for any peace process. “But I said it’ll take six months – at the end of six months and maybe sooner”.
Trump also could not name which Arab leaders he would be able to work with effectively, saying simply that he hasn’t “been working too much with the Arab leaders to be honest with you”.
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“I think I’ll win the Hispanic vote”, Trump told reporters after touring the bridge.
