Donald Trump said Wednesday the Iran nuclear deal before Congress is riddle with holes because it fails to secure the release of American prisoners, and he vowed to put more W’s on the board for the United States if elected president.
Mr. Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas headlined a rally against the deal in an event organized by Tea Party Patriots on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building. Speaker after speaker tried to ramp up pressure on lawmakers to oppose the deal, which lifts economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for it limiting its nuclear program.
Opponents of the deal said Iran is not to be trusted and said that it shows that President Obama sympathizes with radical Islam. The crowd waved American flags, as well as signs that called for the impeachment of Mr. Obama, and said the United States does not to negotiate with terrorists.
Mr. Trump, perhaps channeling Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen, said that taking a firm stand against the Iran deal would be part of his wide-ranging “winning” agenda that he plans to bring into the White House.
“We will have so much winning if I get elected that you may get bored with winning,” Mr. Trump said, sparking laughter and applause from the crowd.
“I agree. You will never get bored with winning,” he quipped. “We are going to turn this country around. We are going to start winning bigly.”
Mr. Trump is leading the GOP presidential race and was invited to take part in the rally by Mr. Cruz, who is polling in the middle of the pack.
Mr. Cruz is thought to be eyeing Mr. Trump’s supporters in the nomination race should the New York billionaire’s campaign flame out.
At the rally, the Texas Republican said there is no greater threat to the security of the United States and Israel than an nuclear-armed Iran, and he called on Democrats to rethink their support of the plan.
“This vote is quite likely the most important that any member of Congress, any member of the Senate, will cast in there entire career,” Mr. Cruz said, adding that if he wins the presidency he will demand Iran stop its nuclear program.
“If Iran will not stop its nuclear program, we will stop it for you,” he said.
The Senate started debating a resolution of disapproval against the plan.
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, said the Iranian nuclear deal is bad because the Persian nation is still holding American prisoners.
“They will be back before I ever take office,” Mr. Trump said, sparking applause from the thousands that turned out. Mr. Trump also question how lawmakers could sign off on a deal after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni said via Twitter that Israel won’t survive the next 25 years.
“We are led by very, very, stupid people,” Mr. Trump said.
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, another GOP White House hopeful, also addressed the crowd, along with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, conservative commentator Mark Levin and former Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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