Former President Donald Trump used an insulting caricature of Jewish Americans once more, eliciting instant condemnation from Jewish organizations and leaders.
“Any Jewish person who votes for Democrats despises their religion,” Trump stated in an interview with Sebastian Gorka, a former White House advisor. “They hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.”
During the interview published on Monday, Trump singled out Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York. Schumer is the nation’s highest-ranking Jewish political figure and a long-time friend of Israel.
In a Monday post on X, formerly Twitter, the New York legislator accused the former president of engaging in “highly partisan and hateful rants.”
Schumer, who supports a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza conflict and has attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that “to make Israel a partisan issue only hurts Israel and the US-Israeli relationship.”
Trump again incorrectly claimed that Democratic politicians who criticize Israel are merely looking for votes from individuals sympathetic to Palestinians in Gaza.
“Don’t forget, when you see those Palestinian marches – even I am amazed at how many people are in those marches,” went on to say. “And guys like Schumer see that, and to him it’s votes.”
On Monday, Jewish groups reacted sharply to Trump’s remarks.
“Accusing Jews of hating their faith because they may vote for a particular party is slanderous and demonstrably wrong. “Serious leaders who care about the historic US-Israel alliance should focus on strengthening, rather than unraveling, bipartisan support for the State of Israel,” Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, told USA TODAY.
“Another day, another depraved antisemitic screed from Donald Trump, who has repeatedly vilified the overwhelming majority of American Jews,” stated Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
The White House promptly replied to Trump’s remarks.
“As Antisemitic crimes and acts of hate have increased across the world – among them the deadliest attack committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust – leaders have an obligation to call hate what it is and bring Americans together against it,” Andrew Bates, the White House press secretary, stated. “There is no justification for spreading toxic, false stereotypes that threaten fellow citizens.”
Trump has regularly equated American Jews with Israelis, or their political opinions with those of the Israeli government, a well-known antisemitic cliche.
In September, Jewish groups chastised Trump for sharing a social media post condemning “liberal Jews” just before Rosh Hashanah began, one of the most important holidays for Jews worldwide.
On that occasion, Trump described his criticism as “just a quick reminder for liberal Jews who voted to destroy America & Israel because you believed false narratives.”