During a recent segment on Fox News Sunday, Shannon Bream, the renowned Fox News anchor, engaged in a probing discussion with Republican Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) regarding former President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about Hezbollah and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump’s comments, made during a speech in Florida earlier in the week, referred to Hezbollah as “very smart” and criticized Netanyahu’s response to a recent terrorist attack.
Bream, adopting a direct and inquisitive tone, pressed Cotton on Trump’s choice of words, especially considering his well-established reputation as a staunch advocate for Israel. “Hezbollah is very smart,” Trump had stated, adding that Netanyahu was unprepared for the recent terrorist incident. Bream, articulating the concerns of many, highlighted the surprising nature of Trump’s statements and sought the Senator’s perspective on the matter.
Cotton, however, sidestepped the issue of Hezbollah and steered the conversation towards addressing Trump’s comments about Netanyahu. “He said that he stands firmly with Israel and with the prime minister,” Cotton emphasized, seemingly attempting to downplay the significance of the friction between the former president and Netanyahu. Urging a broader perspective, the Senator stressed the paramount importance of prioritizing national interests during times of conflict, downplaying any personal disagreements between leaders.
Swiftly shifting the focus to the current administration, Cotton launched a scathing critique of President Joe Biden’s approach towards Iran, drawing a sharp comparison to Trump’s tough stance. “What concerns me even more is this administration’s actions,” he asserted. “As I’ve said, they’ve been soft on Iran versus President Trump, who was very, very tough on Iran and stood squarely with Israel.”
In this charged interview, Bream’s direct questioning and Cotton’s selective focus shed light on the nuanced dynamics of U.S. foreign policy and its intricate relationship with key Middle Eastern players like Israel and Iran.
“You know, Hezbollah is very smart,” Trump said. He added of Netanyahu, “He was not prepared” for last Saturday’s terrorist attack.
“[Trump] took a number of swipes at Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is in the middle of a war now,” bream said. “It raised a lot of eyebrows. People were concerned. This is a person who’s been described as the most pro-Israel president in history. He has a lot of actions and a record to show that. Were you surprised by his take — and the words of calling Hezbollah ‘very smart?’”
Cotton avoided Trump’s comments on Hezbollah — focusing instead on the former president’s remarks about Netanyahu.
“He said that he stands firmly with Israel and with the prime minister,” Cotton said. I understand they’ve had some personal disagreements. But when you’re in the middle of a war, obviously personal disagreements between heads of states pale in comparison to the national interest.”
