White House: Improved ties with Israel show US more ‘beloved’ around the world

Improved ties with Israel prove that the United States is more “beloved” around the world than under the previous administration, a White House spokesman says.

He also said that Israel was “virtually” thought of as an enemy of the United States under the Obama administration.

Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that President Donald Trump is not concerned about seeing protesters during his scheduled trip to Europe next week.

“The President has done an incredible job actually, I believe, regaining some credibility across the globe. The President has made this country more respected, more feared, and quite frankly more beloved in a lot of areas than we were before,” Gidley said.

When asked by a reporter what evidence the White House has that the US is more beloved around the world, Gidley replied: “Israel.”

When pressed for others, he responded: “You’ve seen the relationship with Israel that is greatly enhanced because of this president. It’s the only democracy in the region, and it was virtually thought of to be an enemy of the American people in the last administration.”

Gidley said that Trump “came in and changed the relationship.”

— JTA