Donald Trump is labeled as “anti-Semitic” after controversial remarks at the Israeli-American Council in Hollywood, Florida over the weekend. The pro-Israel group J Street writes, “The President of the United States is incapable of addressing Jewish audiences without dipping into the deep well of anti-Semitic tropes that shape his worldview.” In one instance he brought up a stereotype about Jewish people loving money above all else.
It’s not even coded antisemitism. It’s not a dog whistle. He’s saying this. Out loud. To a room full of Jews. (Who laugh, wtaf white supremacy is a hell of a drug) https://t.co/IgYNBWjyZ0
— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@TheRaDR) December 8, 2019
In the bloody history of modern anti-Semitism, one of the most common justifications for violence is the inflammatory canard that the loyalty of Jewish citizens is suspect.
Trump: “We have to get the people of our country, of this country, to love Israel more, I have to tell you that. We have to do it. We have to get them to love Israel more. Because you have people that are Jewish people that are great people — they don’t love Israel enough.” pic.twitter.com/i26RNDbCIO
— The Hill (@thehill) December 8, 2019
While important @POTUS called out BDS and #antiSemitism, it’s essentially undone by his own trafficking of #antiSemitic tropes: questioning American Jews’ loyalty to Israel and asserting that Jewish voters only care about their wealth.And Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Executive Director Halie Soifer adds:
“We strongly denounce these vile and bigoted remarks in which the president – once again – used anti-Semitic stereotypes to characterize Jews as driven by money and insufficiently loyal to Israel. He even had the audacity to suggest that Jews ‘have no choice’ but to support him.” “The president’s deeply offensive remarks before the Israeli American Council, including his unconscionable repeating of negative stereotypes that have been used historically to target Jews, only reinforce our belief – and warning in our latest ad – that Donald Trump is the biggest threat to American Jews.”
The current occupant of the White House is anti semitic. He continues to tell us. His comments were horrible. Since he asked, NO Jewish person should support him or these comments. He is a gift to anti semites and white Supremacists. https://t.co/P6JGQXibei
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) December 9, 2019