Trump tried a sleazy move when he asked Israel’s leader if ‘Sleepy Joe’ could have made the Israel-Sudan deal, and ended up with egg on his face. Serves him right for trying to get help from a foreign government leader for his campaign.
President Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to discuss a U.S.-backed agreement between Israel and Sudan that charts the start of normalized relations between the two former enemies.
Sudan is the third Arab country in recent weeks to establish ties with Israel under U.S. auspices. But the conversation took a turn when Trump pivoted from the day’s diplomatic development to ask Netanyahu if “Sleepy Joe” — the president’s nickname for his Democratic rival Joe Biden — would have achieved a similar result.
Judging by Trump’s reaction, he may not have received the response he expected from Netanyahu, one of the president’s most fervent global allies, less than two weeks ahead of the presidential election.
“Do you think Sleepy Joe could have made this deal, Bibi, Sleepy Joe,” the president asked from his desk in the Oval Office. He inched forward to lean over the phone receiver. “Do you think he would have made this deal? Somehow I don’t think so.”
A pause ensued. Trump looked down at his clasped hands.
“Well, Mr. President,” Netanyahu began as Trump raised his gaze, “one thing I can tell you is that we appreciate the help for peace from anyone in America, and we appreciate what you’ve done enormously."
The president shifted his hands as the Israeli leader spoke. Trump’s face appeared to fall.
Sudan is the third Arab country in recent weeks to establish ties with Israel under U.S. auspices. But the conversation took a turn when Trump pivoted from the day’s diplomatic development to ask Netanyahu if “Sleepy Joe” — the president’s nickname for his Democratic rival Joe Biden — would have achieved a similar result.
Judging by Trump’s reaction, he may not have received the response he expected from Netanyahu, one of the president’s most fervent global allies, less than two weeks ahead of the presidential election.
“Do you think Sleepy Joe could have made this deal, Bibi, Sleepy Joe,” the president asked from his desk in the Oval Office. He inched forward to lean over the phone receiver. “Do you think he would have made this deal? Somehow I don’t think so.”
A pause ensued. Trump looked down at his clasped hands.
“Well, Mr. President,” Netanyahu began as Trump raised his gaze, “one thing I can tell you is that we appreciate the help for peace from anyone in America, and we appreciate what you’ve done enormously."
The president shifted his hands as the Israeli leader spoke. Trump’s face appeared to fall.
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