Former President Donald Trump headlined the 2024 Israeli American Council summit with a one-hour speech about his vision for the future of Jewish life in America and the Iron Swords War. The Republican nominee for this year’s election spoke in the 8:30 pm slot, occurring during the commemoration for victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. 

Dr. Miriam Adelson, a Medal of Freedom winner, shifted the summit’s opening event from hostage stories to politics, priming the highly anticipated speech from Trump. She reiterated unity and established the Israeli American Council as an apolitical entity, focused solely on uplifting the Jewish community. After establishing that baseline, Dr. Adelson turned to the subject of Trump.

“If he retired tonight, Donald Trump will have done more than enough for the Jewish people and the Jewish state…whether you vote for Trump is your business, but you should certainly thank him,” Adelson said.

Trump appeared onstage to clamorous applause and standing ovations before his hour-long speech. Trump focused on honoring hostages and their families in addition to deeming himself as the pro-Jewish presidential candidate.

Trump began with a quip about his campaign’s signature song, “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood, being cut off before finishing. He thanked Dr. Adelson and his former Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, Elan Carr. Trump then announced the surprise guest attendance of House Speaker Mike Johnson, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog, earning hearty applause for each.

Trump cut right to the purpose of his visit: his attitude toward U.S.-Israeli relations.

“We are gathered tonight to talk about the sacred bond between the United States and Israel. It’s a bond that is in serious trouble. There’s never been anything like it. I believe that we are closer to World War Three than at any time of the history of this country,” Trump said.

Trump built on the stories of previous former hostage speakers and acknowledged the pain of Oct. 7 approaching on the calendar.

“In less than three weeks, we will mark the one-year anniversary of the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists slaughtered more than 1200 Israelis, including men, women, children and even beautiful little babies. They tortured, wounded, kidnapped and horribly maimed thousands more…this could not have happened if I was president,” Trump stated.

In one of the most moving moments of the three-hour event, Trump surprisingly invited key speaker Andrei Kozlov, a former Hamas hostage for eight months, to share the stage with him. He embraced the Russian-Israeli with open arms, saying Kozlov was a handsome guy and a more courageous man than himself. Kozlov explained his feelings about sharing the microphone with Trump.

“I’m shy. What can I say? Thank you so much for this kindness and I appreciate it endlessly,” Kozlov stammered.

Trump went on to ask all hostage family members to stand and be recognized, promising their freedom if he regained the presidency. “Bring them home” chants rang from the crowd.

“One year after the horrific massacre, we are instead threatened with a different future. One in which Oct. 7 happens again and again. I am here tonight to deliver an urgent warning to Jewish Americans and to every friend of Israel all around the world,” Trump said.

Trump highlighted growing Christian support for Israel. He shared an untold experience from when he campaigned in a church in Iowa in 2015 and was asked to speak about Israel.

“I said, ‘If I say something good about Israel, that’s not a positive for this particular group.’ They said, ‘No, sir, if you say something good about Israel, they will love you’…I said, ‘We love Israel, we will save Israel and we will fight with Israel’ and the place went wild. I said, ‘What the hell is going on? They love Israel,’” Trump said before suggesting Christians may love Israel more than New York Jews.

Trump returned to his appeal as the candidate for Jewish voters with a blunt summation of the available options.

“You have a protector in me. You don’t have a protector on the other side. I have said, long and loud, anybody and especially over the last four years, anybody who is Jewish and loves being Jewish and loves Israel is a fool if they vote for a Democrat…they should have their heads examined,” Trump said.

The crowd energized as Trump brought out his signature head examination line, contrasting common media reactions to the idea. The 3000-person crowd, composed mainly of Jews and Israelis, broke into healthy applause.

Trump highlighted the threat of the Iranian regime. Trump cited his foreign policy record that left Iran’s economy in a weakened state. According to the BBC, Iranian oil sales, currency value and GDP growth fell in 2019. He added that their recovering economy, which Trump described as a $350 million increase over the last three years, could lead to the acquisition of nuclear weapons, dramatically increasing danger to the security of Israel.

Trump slipped back into the realm of the presidential race to discuss the outcome of the second debate. He declared himself the winner and reengaged the audience with a brand new impression of moderator David Muir, visibly stiffening up and lowering his voice to a successful physically comedic effect.

After five minutes of debate talk, Trump returned to the topic of Israel. He offered a call to action for everyone in the room.

“My message today is very simple. If you want Israel to survive, you need Donald J. Trump as the 47th president. Under my leadership, America will once again stand, shoulder to shoulder, with our friend and ally, the state of Israel. Right now, all [U.S. leaders] do is fight the state of Israel…I will always defend Israel’s fundamental right to exist as a Jewish nation in the Jewish homeland,” Trump said.

Another warm ovation broke out and “Trump” chants poured out from the back of the crowd. U.S. and Israel flags waved in the air in a display of unity.

Trump finally turned to criticize his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, who declined her invitation to attend the Israeli American Council Summit, for her record on U.S. and Israel relations. He expressed his disagreement with her push for a ceasefire on Hamas terms and the failed Gaza floating pier. Trump joked that the contractors were the biggest winners and that the pier proved worse than the wartime bridges under General Patton in World War II.

Trump began his final appeal to Jewish voters with a focus on antisemitism and the significance of the Jewish voting bloc.

“To confront the crisis of antisemitism within our universities, I will tell college presidents that they must end the antisemitism problem or they will lose their accreditation and all federal support,” Trump said.

He highlighted his role with the Abraham Accords, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and officially recognizing Israeli control of the Golan Heights. He turned to potential Jewish voters one last time.

“I’m now polling at 40 percent [of the Jewish vote]…I wasn’t treated properly by the voters that are Jewish. Do they know what the hell is happening? If I don’t win this election, the Jewish people would really have a lot to do with that. 60 percent of the people are voting for the enemy. Israel, in my opinion, will cease to exist in two years [if Kamala Harris wins],” Trump said.

He walked off the stage to vigorous cheers and chants from the crowd.


Former President Trump looks on at the crowd during his speech. (Adam Lipman/Mitzpeh)