Trump Called Out for Using anti-Semitic Tropes About Wealth and Loyalty in Speech to U.S. Jews
U.S. President Donald Trump sparked controversy during a speech Saturday in which he said there are some Jewish people in America who don’t love Israel enough. He added that his Jewish audience should “be my biggest supporters because you’ll be out of business in about 15 minutes” with 2020 Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax.
Trump was speaking at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida where he argued that Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than him because, unlike his predecessors, “I kept my promises.”
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– Haaretz Weekly Ep. 52
Killing Palestinians isn’t Israel’s goal. Killing Palestine isHaaretz Weekly
“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,” Trump said, to some applause. “Because you have Jewish people that are great people — they don’t love Israel enough.”
Aaron Keyak, the former head of the National Jewish Democratic Council, denounced Trump’s remarks as anti-Semitic.
“Trump’s insistence on using anti-Semitic tropes when addressing Jewish audiences is dangerous and should concern every member of the Jewish community — even Jewish Republicans,” Keyak said.
Vox journalist Aaron Rupar noted, “Multiple levels of bigotry in one comment. It’s totally disgusting and people have become numb to it.” While author Elad Nehorai argued, “This is Trump 100% referring back to his calling liberal Jews “disloyal,” but not saying the word. And he’s getting cheered by other Jews. Disgusting.”
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Multiple levels of bigotry in one comment. It’s totally disgusting and people have become numb to it. https://t.co/hsEnPzc6lx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 8, 2019
This is Trump 100% referring back to his calling liberal Jews “disloyal,” but not saying the word.
And he’s getting cheered by other Jews.
Disgusting. https://t.co/fHMXu6Sk55
— Elad Nehorai (@PopChassid) December 8, 2019
Far-right pundit Ann Coulter argued Trump didn’t go far enough writing, “Could we start slowly by getting them to like America?”
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– Anna
Could we start slowly by getting them to like America? https://t.co/c5TV2wbK5a
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) December 8, 2019
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Trump has been accused of trafficking in anti-Semitic stereotypes before, including in August, when he said American Jews who vote for Democrats show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” A number of Jewish groups noted at the time that accusations of disloyalty have long been made against Jews.
“You have to vote for me, you have no choice,” Trump said. “You’re not going to vote for Pocahontas, I can tell you that,” referring to Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, in a dig at her claiming Native American ancestry.