Former Democratic Representative Peter Deutsch, who served six terms in Florida’s 20th Congressional District, made headlines by officially endorsing former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential race.
Deutsch announced his endorsement during a Trump campaign conference call that marked the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, expressing strong concerns about the current administration’s foreign policy.
Deutsch, who is Jewish, cited the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of Iran as a major factor in his decision. He criticized their policies, claiming they have made the world “dramatically less safe” and have emboldened Iran in its aggression toward Israel and the U.S.
“It’s not just about what is happening in the Middle East,” Deutsch said. “It’s literally about the homeland. It’s about Israel. Iran, their enemy is not just Israel — their enemy remains the United States. They still want to destroy the United States.”
The timing of his endorsement is particularly poignant, coming on the one-year anniversary of the devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel, known as Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. This attack was the most significant military incursion into Israel since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, resulting in over 1,100 deaths, including both civilians and security personnel, and leading to the abduction of around 250 Israelis.
Deutsch didn’t hold back in his criticism of the current administration, likening their diplomatic approach to Iran to the infamous appeasement policies of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. He argued that the Biden-Harris administration’s strategies have failed to prevent escalating tensions in the Middle East and have compromised global peace.
“For what I believe is the most important job of the president of the United States, which is trying to retain peace in the world, there is an extraordinarily clear choice,” Deutsch stated. He emphasized that Trump is the only candidate who can provide the necessary strength to ensure both U.S. and global security.
The former congressman’s endorsement is significant not only because he is a long-time Democrat, but also because his focus on international security and criticism of Biden’s foreign policy highlights growing concerns among some voters about the current administration’s effectiveness in handling global crises.
Deutsch’s decision to back Trump, especially at this critical moment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, underscores the polarization and the heightened importance of foreign policy issues in the 2024 presidential race.
