Peres hoped America would reject Trump's vision

"The idea of Mr. Trump, the idea of America, shall I say, in a nice way, it’s unbelievable ignorant."

By MICHAEL WILNER
Updated: SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 23:10
Israel and the world bid farewell to Shimon Peres
WASHINGTON -- In his last interview with American media before he died, Israel's beloved statesman, Shimon Peres, said that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's vision for America should be ignored.
His remarks, to Bloomberg TV on September 2, were his most extensive comments on the GOP candidate after he had clinched the nomination in May. Peres suffered a stroke days later and passed away on Tuesday night.
"The idea of Mr. Trump, the idea of America," Peres said at the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, Italy– "shall I say, in a nice way, it’s unbelievable ignorant."
Asked in April for his thoughts on Trump, Peres demurred, simply stating there was little to think of the man.
"America is leading the world, the world will not lead itself,” Peres said in September. "Walls will not separate people. People are stronger than walls, they build them and destroy them and I hope America will decide to continue to lead the world by goodwill, by hope, and by change." Trump will not attend Peres' funeral in Jerusalem on Friday, but offered praise for the late statesman after learning of his death.
"He was a consummate statesman, a distinguished patriot and a friend of peace-loving people everywhere," Trump said. "Peres personified dignity and grace in a region of the world where both run far too short."
Trump will not attend Peres' funeral in Jerusalem on Friday, but offered praise for the late statesman after learning of his death.
Peres died Wednesday morning after suffering from complications stemming from a severe stroke that struck the former president two-weeks prior.
Peres was rushed to Sheeba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer on September 13, and was placed under the care of his personal physician and son-in-law Dr. Rafi Walden before succumbing to his illness. He was 93.