In a significant shift from his party, former Democratic Congressman Peter Deutsch, who served six terms in Florida’s 20th District, has publicly endorsed Donald Trump for president.
Citing his growing concerns about the Biden administration’s foreign policy failures, Deutsch emphasized that global security is his top priority in the upcoming election. During a call organized by Trump’s campaign, Deutsch pointed to Biden and Harris’s handling of world conflicts, particularly their approach to the Hamas-Israel war and Iran, as reasons for his endorsement.
Ultimately, he explained, the “driving force for me to make this decision is what I believe is the most important factor in being president, which is really world peace.”
“And I think that Kamala Harris and the Harris-Biden administration in terms of what they have done and are doing,” he said, “make the world a dramatically less safe place.”
Deutsch’s endorsement reflects growing dissatisfaction with Biden’s leadership, particularly on foreign policy, where some see Trump as the stronger, more decisive candidate. The endorsement also comes as a shock to most who have long followed Florida politics, like reporter Marc Caputo.
I was floored when I saw Deutsch backing Trump. He was the definition of partisan South Florida Dem — his successor was Debbie Wasserman Schultz!
But many FL Jewish Ds have been outraged by the anti-Israel protests on the left & so this isn’t too surprising for a former member https://t.co/58t5vyNScF
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 7, 2024
The defection comes as Democrats are getting hammered harder over their party’s treatment of Israel in recent months.
The Biden White House briefly paused a shipment of large bombs to Israel over concerns about civilian deaths in Gaza and has at times criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the administration has otherwise offered its unwavering support for Israel.
Trump has repeatedly touted himself as a pro-Israel president, citing his decision to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, his recognition of the Golan Heights territory and the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
Kamala Harris was largely absent from public appearances on Monday, the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that renewed the conflict between Hamas and Israel, and her absence was seen by some on the right as an admission that she was afraid of the growing antisemitic tone in her party’s most vocal members and supporters.
Amid the painful reminder of what Hamas did to Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, leftist protests have erupted in several key Democrat strongholds. Protestors have repeatedly insulted Israel and even attacked Jews who publicly supported Israel. The chaos in the streets has only added to fears that the current administration has stoked the chaos, rather than attempting to bring order back to these parts of the country seemingly infested with antisemitic movements.
Deutsch, for his part, joins Tusli Gabbard and Robert Kennedy, Jr. as current or former Democrats who have decided to support Trump, particularly over the policies of the Biden administration and the growing illiberal mindset of Democratic politicians.
