Trump Advisors Joked About Fleeing to Israel for Protection

Advisors to then-U.S. President Donald Trump, during a private video call six days before the midterm elections, joked about potential imprisonment and seeking refuge in Israel, protected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The call, which included over 20 strategists, reportedly touched on grim topics like prison food and funerals in a lighthearted manner. One advisor, identified as Blair, remarked that Netanyahu had secured a victory and could protect them, with another suggesting they could seek asylum in Israel. The New York Times, which reported on the conversation, also explored Trump's perspective on the election results. The article suggests Trump was primarily concerned with events directly impacting him, meaning a Republican loss wouldn't necessarily be a personal blow as his name wasn't on the ballot. Furthermore, the report posits that Trump might have even welcomed a Democratic victory, as it would present him with a clear political adversary in a congressional majority, a dynamic he reportedly thrives on more than consensus-building. The article implies that the weakening of his own Republican party might not have greatly concerned him, while facing Democrats would offer a fresh political challenge.