Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Trump: Any Jew Voting Democratic Is Uninformed or Disloyal
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
August 21, 2019

Share

WASHINGTON — Showing a fresh willingness to play politics along religious lines, President Donald Trump said American Jews who vote for Democrats show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”
Trump’s claim triggered a quick uproar from critics who said the Republican president was trading in anti-Semitic stereotypes. It came amid Trump’s ongoing feud with Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who are Muslim.

“Where has the Democratic Party gone? Where have they gone where they are defending these two people over the state of Israel? I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.” — President Donald Trump
Trump has closely aligned himself with Israel, including conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while the congresswomen are outspoken critics of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Tlaib is a U.S.-born Palestinian American; Omar was born in Somalia.
“Where has the Democratic Party gone? Where have they gone where they are defending these two people over the state of Israel?” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. “I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”
A number of Jewish groups noted that accusations of disloyalty have long been made against Jews, including in Europe during the 1930s. Ann Lewis and Mark Mellman of Democratic Majority for Israel called it “one of the most dangerous, deadly accusations Jews have faced over the years. False charges of disloyalty over the centuries have led to Jews being murdered, jailed and tortured.”

Jewish American Organizations Denounce Trump’s Comments

At Trump’s urging, Israel last week blocked Omar and Tlaib from entering the country. Israel later agreed to a humanitarian visit for Tlaib to visit her grandmother, who lives in the West Bank. Tlaib declined, saying her grandmother had ultimately urged her not to come under what they considered to be humiliating circumstances.
Trump called Omar a “disaster” for Jews and said he didn’t “buy” the tears that Tlaib shed Monday as she discussed the situation. Both lawmakers support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a global protest of Israel.
Trump’s comments were denounced swiftly by Jewish American organizations.
“At a time when anti-Semitic incidents have increased — due to the president’s emboldening of white nationalism — Trump is repeating an anti-Semitic trope,” said Halie Soifer, executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.
Logan Bayroff of the liberal J Street pro-Israel group said it was “no surprise that the president’s racist, disingenuous attacks on progressive women of color in Congress have now transitioned into smears against Jews.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition argued that Trump was speaking about people being disloyal to themselves rather than to Israel.
“President Trump is right, it shows a great deal of disloyalty to oneself to defend a party that protects/emboldens people that hate you for your religion,” the group said in a tweet.
American Jews don’t necessarily support everything that Israel does, nor are they the most single-issue voters.

Not the First Time Trump Has Been Criticized for Remarks

Recent polling shows that a majority of Jews identify as Democrats.
According to AP VoteCast, a survey of the 2018 electorate, 72% of Jewish voters supported Democratic House candidates in 2018. Similarly, 74% said they disapprove of how Trump is handling his job.
A Pew Research Center poll conducted in April found that among Jewish Americans, 42% said Trump is favoring the Israelis too much, 6% said he’s favoring the Palestinians too much and 47% said he’s striking the right balance. Jews were more likely than Christians to say Trump favors the Israelis too much, 42% to 26%.

Rep. Ilhan Omar was roundly criticized by members of both parties for saying during a town hall earlier this year that she wanted to discuss “the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
Omar was roundly criticized by members of both parties for saying during a town hall earlier this year that she wanted to discuss “the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
This is not the first time Trump has been criticized for remarks seen by some as anti-Semitic. In 2015, Trump, then a candidate, spoke to the Republican Jewish Coalition and made a similar comment.
“You’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money,” he said then. “You want to control your politicians, that’s fine.”
Later in the campaign, he tweeted a graphic critical of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, that featured a six-pointed star, a pile of cash and the words “most corrupt candidate ever.” The star was believed by many to be the Star of David, which is featured on the Israeli flag. The campaign denied that the star carried any special meaning.
The president first attacked Omar and Tlaib, and two other Democratic congresswomen of color, last month by telling them to “go back” to their home countries. All four are United States citizens.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

DON'T MISS

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

DON'T MISS

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

DON'T MISS

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

DON'T MISS

Universal Studios Fan Fest 2025 to Feature Immersive D&D Attraction and More

DON'T MISS

Thousands Gather in London for Trans Rights Following UK Ruling Over Definition of Woman

DON'T MISS

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

DON'T MISS

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

DON'T MISS

Spring Allergies Are Back. Here’s How to Check Pollen Levels and Keep From Sneezing

UP NEXT

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

UP NEXT

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

UP NEXT

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

UP NEXT

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

UP NEXT

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

UP NEXT

Putin Announces an Easter Ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of POWs

UP NEXT

NBA Playoff Guide: Who Plays When, How to Watch, What the Odds Are

UP NEXT

Senator Slams ‘Margaritagate’ Stunt During Deportee Visit

UP NEXT

LA Rams Can Bolster a Contending Roster With Another Strong Showing in NFL Draft

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

11 hours ago

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

12 hours ago

Universal Studios Fan Fest 2025 to Feature Immersive D&D Attraction and More

13 hours ago

Thousands Gather in London for Trans Rights Following UK Ruling Over Definition of Woman

14 hours ago

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

14 hours ago

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

16 hours ago

Spring Allergies Are Back. Here’s How to Check Pollen Levels and Keep From Sneezing

16 hours ago

US Small Manufacturers Hope to Benefit From Tariffs, but Some Worry About Uncertainty

16 hours ago

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

16 hours ago

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

16 hours ago

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

CAIRO — Yemen’s Houthi rebels said Saturday that the U.S. military launched a series of airstrikes on the capital, Sanaa, and the Hout...

11 hours ago

11 hours ago

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

11 hours ago

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

11 hours ago

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

11 hours ago

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

12 hours ago

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

13 hours ago

Universal Studios Fan Fest 2025 to Feature Immersive D&D Attraction and More

14 hours ago

Thousands Gather in London for Trans Rights Following UK Ruling Over Definition of Woman

14 hours ago

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend