DeSantis scathes Trump for calling Hezbollah ‘very smart’

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis launched a scathing attack on former President Donald Trump for calling Hezbollah terrorists “very smart” amid a heightened war between Israel and neighboring terrorist groups.

Speaking to a Florida crowd, Trump mocked the Biden administration’s analysis of the tensions between Israel and radical Islamic groups.

“[Biden administration’s defense officials said] ‘Gee, I hope Hezbollah doesn’t attack from the north, because that’s the most vulnerable spot!'” Trump said. “I said, wait a minute, you know, Hezbollah is very smart. They’re all very smart.”

“The press doesn’t like when you say that, you know,” he continued. “I said that President Xi of China, 1.4 billion people, he controls it with an iron fist. I said, ‘He’s a very smart man.’ They killed me the next day.”

“But, Hezbollah, they’re very smart,” Trump said.

Trump also criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “let[ting] us down.”

In response, DeSantis slammed the former president.

“Terrorists have murdered at least 1,200 Israelis and 22 Americans and are holding more hostage, so it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel, much less praise Hezbollah terrorists as ‘very smart,'” DeSantis posted on X.

“As President, I will stand with Israel and treat terrorists like the scum that they are,” DeSantis said.

Trump’s campaign responded, saying the former president “was clearly pointing out how incompetent Biden and his administration were by telegraphing to the terrorists an area that is susceptible to an attack.”

“Smart does not equal good. It just proves Biden is stupid,” the Trump War Room said on X. “And now you look stupid, Ron.”

Christina Pushaw, a member of DeSantis’ campaign, fired back, saying, “If Rashida Tlaib got up on stage to talk about ‘very smart’ Hezbollah, then bash the Israeli leadership, you’d call her a terrorist… He said what he said.”

“It’s so clear that you have to explain it, right?” said Jeremy Redfern, executive office press secretary for DeSantis.

Trump has said the recent terror attacks and escalation against Israel from groups like Hamas and Hezbollah would not have happened under his administration.

DeSantis strongly condemned the attacks, and in response, this week announced a proposal for heightened sanctions against Iran for purportedly helping plan the attacks.