Trump made the claim on the 1-year anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, an assault he argued should have never happened. The former president was asked whether he would advise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike Iran’s oil refinery or nuclear sites, prompting Trump to argue that “nuclear warming, not global warming,” is the biggest danger to the world.

“And the nuclear people can’t have the nuclear,” Trump said during a call on The Hugh Hewitt Show. “The nuclear is the power. You know, I rebuilt our entire nuclear force. And our nuclear is the best in the world. And Russia’s right behind us. You know what? I’ll tell you, you never want to use it. If you have to use it, it’s obliteration. It’s a dangerous thing. and Iran is very close to getting it. They would have never had it with me.”

Trump was asked again if he would support Israel striking Iran’s nuclear sites, and the former president responded that “they’re entitled to an attack,” citing how Iran launched “187 missiles” at Israel earlier this month, most of which the Jewish state was able to stop. The former president also promised that a second Trump presidency would build a shield around the United States in the same vein as Israel’s Iron Dome, as “that was our technology.”

The former president added that Israel needs to “get smart” about supporting him, arguing that the support he gives to the country is “not reciprocal.” He also claimed that he has done more than anyone else in supporting Israel and the Jewish community and that he should have “100%” of support from Jewish voters.

When asked about growing antisemitism on college campuses, Trump condemned the violent protests happening over the last year at places such as Columbia University. He also confirmed that he would use the Justice Department to enforce the law on these campuses, as these protests need to be addressed “quickly.”

On the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden took part in a yahrzeit candle-lighting ceremony at the White House, where the two were joined by Adas Israel Congregation’s Rabbi Aaron Alexander. Trump, in a radio interview, rebuked Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his 2024 opponent, for having the “worst foreign policy” in history, reiterating his claim that the attack would not have happened under his leadership.

Ahead of the 2024 election, Trump has questioned why his support among Jewish voters is not higher, as well as why they support “people that hate Israel.” The former president has also cautioned that Israel will be “abandoned” if Harris is elected president.