Former President Donald Trump made a stop in New Hampshire Monday to sign up for the state’s presidential primary, and then blasted President Biden over his handling of the wars in Ukraine and Israel.
Mr. Trump filed the election paperwork in Concord, putting him on the ballot of the state with the first primary in the nation, before heading to a campaign rally in Derry. The front-runner for the GOP nomination in 2024 won New Hampshire’s Republican primary in 2016 and 2020, but lost the state in both general elections.
The former president boasted about his chances of becoming the 47th president, citing his lead in the polls over his fellow Republican candidates and over Mr. Biden.
He blasted Mr. Biden for how he has handled the Ukraine-Russia war and said shortly after he becomes president, he would have the war “settled.”
“Before I even arrive at the Oval Office shortly after I win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled,” he said. “That’s a war that should have never, would have never taken place.”
He also said the U.S. should take a page out of Israel’s book and build a “state-of-the-art” missile defense shield.
“We have to have a shield. I want to build a shield around our country,” he said. “And these shields work. Frankly, if Israel didn’t have a shield, you wouldn’t have Israel today.”
He said the shield would be made in New Hampshire, which garnered cheers from the crowd.
Mr. Trump criticized Mr. Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, saying he would be all in for Israel. He blamed Mr. Biden’s “weakness and what he did with Iran and others” for causing the attack on Israel.
“Unlike Joe Biden, I will stand with our friend and ally, the State of Israel, 100%,” he said. “And unlike crooked Joe, I will fully support Israel’s mission of ensuring that the terrorist group Hamas is defeated, dismantled and permanently destroyed.”
Mr. Trump’s stump speech comes at a time when his fellow Republican candidates are still searching for a way to close the gap on him. In a Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll, Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump are practically tied with 37% of voter support.
The former president is still far ahead of his fellow Republican candidates among GOP primary voters, with 58% saying they would vote for him if their state’s primary/caucus was held today. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis grabbed 12% of voters and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is creeping close to Mr. DeSantis with 11%.
Mr. Trump’s dominance in the polls continues even with his long list of legal troubles, including one civil case and four criminal cases.
“To every American who is terrified that crooked Joe’s weakness will cause catastrophic global conflict, excuse me, it already is,” he said. “I make this promise to you as president — I will restore peace through strength and we will prevent, we will stop, World War III.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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