'That is crazy': CNN panel left momentarily speechless by Trump remarks about ally

Panelists on "CNN This Morning" were left momentarily speechless by President Donald Trump's assessment of his relationship with Israel.

The 80-year-old president discussed his Iran peace agreement Tuesday from the G7 summit in France, and he commented on Israeli leadership's apparent objections to the terms of the deal.

"Without the United States, there would be no Israel," Trump said. "Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did. I had a great relationship with Bibi [Netanyahu], but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon."

Four seconds elapsed before any of the panelists offered a reaction.

"Well, that is just," stammered State Department veteran Joel Rubin, breaking the silence. "That is crazy."

"Listen," offered Penny Nance, president and CEO of Concerned Women for America. "I had 40 Young Women for America leaders that were in Israel last week and had to go underground because of bombing and shelling. They are actively in the middle of a war zone in Israel and Lebanon."

"But did they say 'thank God for Trump or?'" asked host Audie Cornish.

"But Donald Trump is not responsible for the state of Israel's existence," Rubin interjected.

"No, but I'm just saying that it is – absolutely, I'm just saying that I think that Israel has every right to protect themselves," Nance replied, "and I would say that we have to be very clear-eyed about the fact that what's happening in the entire region, and if we can bring other partners like Syria."

"Do you think that's what Trump just said?" Cornish chuckled.

"'If it wasn't for me, there'd be no Israel,' is what he just said," Rubin argued. "That is absolutely counterfactual. There is no truth to that. Donald Trump did not create the state of Israel – he didn't. He joined in a military action alongside Israel against Iran, clearly. But the state of Israel's existence is not dependent upon the president of the United States. We have a relationship."

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