President Donald Trump’s connection to United Hatzalah began in 2013. I told him about the lifesaving work we do. He was immediately enthusiastic. Trump even donated $100,000 for our ambucycles, demonstrating his personal commitment to saving lives in Israel.

When Trump entered the national stage in 2015, many questioned his stance toward Israel and the Jewish people. His lawyer at the time, David Friedman, said he was a proponent of both. Trump’s support for his daughter Ivanka’s conversion to Judaism further affirmed his respect for Jewish traditions and history. He understood the importance of Jewish identity, particularly after hearing about the grandparents of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner—Joseph and Rae Kushner, Holocaust survivors whose experiences left a profound impact on their family.

In the past decade, I have heard people label Trump as an antisemite. My personal experiences tell a different story. His consistent support for Israel, his actions and even his financial contributions to United Hatzalah have reaffirmed his commitment to the Jewish people and the Jewish state. Trump grew up surrounded by Jewish communities in New York City. His father, Fred Trump, was a staunch supporter of Jewish causes, a fact Trump mentioned to me when he made his donation. His father even included a synagogue in one of his buildings. Trump’s connection to the Jewish people is deep and personal, shaped by genuine understanding and empathy.

During the 2024 presidential election campaign, as Israel and Jews worldwide marked one year since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, the deadliest assault on Jews since the Holocaust, I was certain that Trump was the leader Israel needed during this difficult and sensitive time. I knew that as president, he would enact real change in the region. Based on my interactions with him and the people surrounding him, I have no doubt of their support for the State of Israel and its right to defend itself, Jews and non-Jews alike. Mike Huckabee, the incoming US ambassador to Israel, is one of the most Zionistic individuals I have ever met. His love for Israel goes beyond religious ideology; it is genuine. He has visited Israel more than 50 times, demonstrating his steadfast commitment.

Just weeks after Oct. 7, I was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition convention. Our United Hatzalah volunteers had witnessed unspeakable horrors—murder, rape, mutilation—as they entered the line of fire to save lives. My wife and children were among those who responded, putting their lives in danger, too. My speech moved the audience, including the newly appointed Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who wept as he expressed his unwavering support for Israel to me after my speech. Every single Republican Congress member I met that day pledged to fight for Israel and the release of hostages taken into Gaza that day.

On the sidelines of the convention, I had the privilege of holding a meeting with Trump organized by our mutual friend, philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson. I shared firsthand accounts from our volunteers about the atrocities they had witnessed on Oct. 7. Trump was outraged and horrified by the brutality of the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists. He vowed that under his presidency, such a tragedy would never happen again. That meeting left me with absolute certainty: If Trump were re-elected, Israel would have the full backing of America. I later learned that he repeated these accounts to friends and colleagues throughout his campaign, underscoring how deeply they affected him.

At Trump’s inauguration—an event I was honored to attend—the world saw a leader who stood unapologetically for Israel, while members of his administration consistently reaffirmed their support for the Jewish state.

Trump’s return to the White House will undoubtedly reshape the future of Israel. Under former President Joe Biden, the Democrats attempted to negotiate a deal while positioning themselves as fair mediators between Israel and Hamas, a known terror regime. In contrast, Trump exerted direct and intense pressure on Hamas and Qatar to help secure a deal before taking office.

With the first phase of the deal unfolding, Israel has an opportunity to work closely with the new US administration to see the process through to the end, as more than 70 hostages remain in Hamas’s hands. Israelis must present a strong, cohesive front to our greatest ally at this critical moment. We have the full attention and support of the United States to finalize the second phase of the hostage deal and to ensure that Hamas will never return and that Hezbollah will no longer pose a threat. Trump has also promised to expand the 2020 Abraham Accords, one of his greatest achievements.

Ahead of Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington—his first meeting with a foreign leader since returning to office—Israelis of all backgrounds and ideologies must unite. America will not continue to support us if we are divided on fundamental issues. If we work alongside the Trump administration, which enjoys the backing of the US House, Senate and Supreme Court, Israel can finally achieve the peace and security it deserves.

At United Hatzalah, Jews, Arabs and Christians work side by side to save lives. I see this unity in my organization every day, and it gives me hope that such cohesion is possible for our entire nation.

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