Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida dismissed Donald Trump’s argument in the GOP debate Thursday that the negotiating skills he has honed over the years as real estate developer would also work on the world stage.
Mr. Trump has argued throughout the campaign that he has negotiated great deals and said Thursday that he would try to hammer out a deal that would bring an end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Mr. Rubio, though, said that it is misguided for Mr. Trump to think could cut a deal because the current makeup of the Palestinian Authority won’t allow that to happen.
“I am a negotiator,” Mr. Trump responded.
“I have done very well over the years through negotiation, it is very important that we do that,” he said, alluding to pushing for a peace deal, which he said would be difficult, but not impossible
“In all fairness Marco is not a negotiator. I watched him meltdown and I tell you it was one of the saddest things I have ever seen,” he said, dinging him over a previous debate performance.
Mr. Rubio fired back that Mr. Trump is wrong to think that hammering out a deal with the Palestinians is similar to closing a real estate contract.
“They are not a real estate deal,” Mr. Rubio said.
Mr. Trump countered that “A deal is a deal.”
“A deal is not a deal when you are dealing with terrorists,” Mr. Rubio said. “Have you ever negotiated with terrorists?”
With an attitude like that, Mr. Trump warned that Mr. Rubio would never be able to bring peace to the region.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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