Disgusted Jake Tapper Calls Trump Out For ‘Never Forget’ Riff — ‘Not About The Holocaust’ But His Bitterness At Netanyahu

CNN anchor Jake Tapper called out ex-President Donald Trump for a riff in his speech invoking the words “never forget” — but not in relation to the Holocaust or any tragedy of consequence.

Trump has fired off a scattershot barrage of criticisms since the coordinated terrorist assault by Hamas, including lashing out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli defense officials, while praising Hezbollah as “very smart.”

On Thursday’s edition of The Lead, a clearly disgusted Tapper called Trump out over those remarks with a short monologue illustrating Trump’s priorities, then discussed the attacks Trump made with CNN correspondent Jaime Gangel:

TAPPER: “Never forget,” Donald Trump said Wednesday night, “never forget.”

But Mr. Trump was not invoking the Holocaust, a few days after the deadliest day for the Jewish people since that horror, no.

Donald Trump was saying quote, “I will never forget” in a riff where he was trashing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that Netanyahu, quote, let us down, unquote. Reportedly for not participating in the strike against an Iranian general but of course you really should recall how upset Trump was that Netanyahu was the first world leader to congratulate President Biden, after Biden won the presidency.

CNN’s Jaime Gangel joins us. Jamie, let me play some of Mr. Trump’s remarks Wednesday night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down. That was a very terrible thing. I will say that. When I see sometimes the intelligence, you talk about the intelligence or you talk about some of the things that went wrong over the last week, they’ve got to straighten it out because they’re fighting potentially a very big force. And they said, gee, I hope Hezbollah doesn’t attack from the north because that’s the most vulnerable spot. I said, wait a minute. You know, Hezbollah is very smart. They’re all very smart. The press doesn’t like when they say it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: So Hezbollah is very smart, attacking Netanyahu. He called the defense minister of Israel a jerk. I mean —

JAIME GANGEL: This is classic Donald Trump, and it’s really about petty grievances. What do we know about Donald Trump loyalty is a one way street. And I would say that this was not about Soleimani. This is about one thing which you mentioned, which is, oh, my goodness, Benjamin Netanyahu picked up the phone and congratulated Joe Biden, when he won the election, which to Donald Trump’s mind, is the worst possible thing you could do.

TAPPER: Trump’s comments are drawing some criticism. Liz Cheney tweeted, after Hamas slaughters hundreds of Jewish families and Israel confronts and unprecedented security crisis, Donald Trump attacks the Israeli government and praises Hezbollah terrorists. Are Republicans really going to nominate this dangerous man to be President of the United States? And here is what Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now is not the time to be doing like what Donald Trump did by attacking Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, attacking Israel’s defense minister, saying somehow that Hezbollah were very smart. We need to all be on the same page. Now is not the time to air personal grievances about an Israeli prime minister.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: I mean, Donald Trump disagrees. He thinks it is the time for personal grievances. Do you think Republican, I am, you know, I’m not even going to ask or should I ask you?

GANGEL: Go ahead. Yes.

TAPPER: Will this make a difference with Republican voters? I should — like honestly every time I asked that question, somebody should fine me $100.

GANGEL: I’m going to answer it slightly differently from the way we used to. First of all, we don’t know yet. Secondly, Trump’s base seems to be willing to stick with him through thick, through thin, through 91 indictments. So why should this change anything except, there are Trump supporters, Christian evangelicals, Jews, supporters of Israel who may not like this. Mike Pence who was picked because of his, you know, background with Christian evangelicals.

TAPPER: Mike Pence, of Hang Mike Pence fame?

GANGEL: Yes. Said today, Hezbollah aren’t smart they are evil. So he even pushed back on this. I think it’s unlikely to change many Trump voters, but maybe some.

Watch above via CNN’s The Lead.