Donald Trump was accused byFox Newsviewers of being 'severely mentally ill' after he told reporters on an airport runway that he could run for Prime Minister of Israel once his time as US President is over, while lavishing praise on Benjamin Netanyahu and boasting about his popularity in the country.
The remarks follow a now-familiar pattern of Trump blending freewheeling political commentary with personal flattery and self-promotion.
The President has repeatedly presented himself as Israel's staunchest ally and has used his relationship with Netanyahu as proof, even as his public statements grow more eccentric, and critics raise questions about his age, fitness and mental sharpness.
NOW - Trump says Netanyahu "will do whatever I want him to do. He's a great guy," adding, "I'm right now, at 99% in Israel. I could run for Prime Minister. So, maybe after I do this I'll go to Israel run for Prime Minister."pic.twitter.com/Pi1eFBufJL
Speaking to journalists on the tarmac, Trump described Netanyahu as 'a great guy' and a 'wartime Prime Minister' whom, he argued, Israelis do not 'treat right.' Then he pivoted sharply to himself.
'I'm at 99% in Israel right now, and I could run for prime minister,' Trump said, before musing: 'So maybe after I do this, I'll go to Israel, run for prime minister. At a poll this morning, I'm 99%, so that's good.'
The legal and constitutional impossibility did not enter the conversation. Instead, Trump circled back to Netanyahu, repeating that he did not think the Israeli leader was being treated well.
FoxNewscarriedthe comments alongside its coverage of Netanyahu, and the online reaction was immediate and unforgiving.
One social media user, quoted byTheExpress, wrote: 'Severely mentally ill. Trump embarrasses himself as he can't handle Russia going to China without obsessing over his own ratings. This is not normal adult behaviour.'
Another person focused less on the words than the man delivering them. 'Did he gain 20lbs... Not looking good physically, emotionally, or mentally. Time to remove the traitor,' they posted, in a characteristic mixture of armchair diagnosis and political fury.
Source: International Business Times UK
