Former Democratic Representative Peter Deutsch of Florida expressed his support for former President Donald Trump on Monday, attributing his decision to discontent with President Joe Biden’s handling of international conflicts.
Deutsch, who represented Florida’s 20th Congressional District for six terms from 1993 to 2005, made his endorsement during a campaign call marking the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, as reported by The Hill. He criticized the Biden administration for what he views as insufficient leadership in tackling global crises, especially those that impact international peace.
“I feel very comfortable today publicly announcing that I’m endorsing Donald Trump to be reelected as president,” Deutsch said, The Hill reported. “Driving force for me to make this decision is what I believe is the most important factor in being president, which is really world peace.”
SCOOP @J_Insider via @matthewkassel: Former Democratic congressman Peter Deutsch, who represented Florida in Congress from 1993-2005 (and ran for Senate), endorsed Trump for president today.https://t.co/7sARniDPNW
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) October 7, 2024
“And I think that Kamala Harris and the Harris-Biden administration in terms of what they have done and are doing … make the world a dramatically less safe place,” Deutsch added.
The Trump campaign took the opportunity to criticize President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for what they perceive as a lackluster approach to Iran, a recognized supporter of Hamas. They also accused the administration of not providing adequate support to Israel amid its ongoing conflict with the Palestinian militant organization, as reported by the outlet. Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa further condemned Biden and Harris’s Middle East policy on the anniversary of Hamas’s invasion of Israel on October 7, labeling it as “catastrophic.” She linked the current regional turmoil to their decisions, which include criticizing Israel, removing the Houthis from the list of terrorist organizations, and showing leniency towards Iran.
On Friday, U.S. and British forces executed airstrikes targeting more than a dozen Houthi positions in Yemen, following the group’s threats of escalated military actions and a recent incident involving the downing of a U.S. drone, according to officials from The Associated Press. The Houthis, notorious for their disruptive activities in the Middle East, have recently ramped up their operations, including assaults on Israel and threats to shipping routes in the Red Sea.
