McConnell pushes back on Trump claim Israel is ‘losing the PR war’

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Tuesday pushed back against former President Trump’s declaration that Israel is “losing the PR war” and needs to get its military operation “over with” so it can “get back to normalcy.”

McConnell told reporters that it’s not appropriate to tell a close ally in the middle of a war what to do.

“My view is when you have a democratic ally, somebody we’re closely aligned with, I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to give them advice about whether to have elections or what their military strategy ought to be,” he said when asked about Trump’s comments.

“They didn’t start this war and I’m hopeful that they’ll be able to achieve their goal, which is to eliminate Hamas from being able to govern and effectively control Gaza,” he added, noting the Israel Defense Force invaded Gaza after Hamas militants crossed into Israel on Oct. 7 and killed about 1,200 Israeli civilians and soldiers.

McConnell on Tuesday made clearly that he remains firmly committed to supporting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy of eliminating Hamas in Gaza, despite Trump’s comments.

“Israel is absolutely losing the PR war,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt.

“You’ve got to get it over with, and you have to get back to normalcy,” he said. “You have to have a victory, and it’s taking a long time.”

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McConnell’s comments also pushed back against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) call last month for Israel to hold a new round of elections, even though its next scheduled election isn’t until 2026.

“The Jewish state of Israel deserves an ally that acts like one,” McConnell said on the Senate floor last month.

“The people of Israel, at home and in captivity, deserve America’s support,” he said. “And Israel’s unity government and security cabinet deserve the deference befitting a sovereign, democratic country.”