Donald Trump is under fire for controversial remarks he made regarding American Jews who support Democrats. The comments, made during an interview with Sebastian Gorka’s America First podcast, have sparked widespread criticism, with the White House labeling them as “antisemitic rhetoric.”
During the podcast, Trump stated, “Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel would be destroyed.”
Trump’s remarks came during a discussion between Gorka and Trump about the increasing scrutiny faced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from prominent Democrats such as President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as Israel’s war with militant group Hamas in Gaza drags on.
Trump further expressed his belief that Democrats harbor animosity towards Israel, stating, “I actually think they hate Israel,” and accusing the Democratic Party of sharing this sentiment.
This isn’t the first time Trump’s comments regarding Jewish Americans have drawn criticism. In the past, he reportedly made statements praising Adolf Hitler’s actions and has been accused of echoing Hitler’s rhetoric in his speeches about immigrants.
Additionally, Trump has faced backlash for his remarks about the 2017 Charlottesville neo-Nazi march and for associating with individuals who hold antisemitic views.
The White House condemned Trump’s recent comments, denouncing them as “vile and unhinged antisemitic rhetoric.” President Biden’s administration emphasized the importance of confronting hate speech and fostering unity in the face of rising antisemitic crimes worldwide.
“President Biden has put his foot down when it comes to vile and unhinged Antisemitic rhetoric,” Bates said. “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. There is no justification for spreading toxic, false stereotypes that threaten fellow citizens. None.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also criticized Trump’s remarks, with its CEO describing them as “defamatory” and urging leaders to focus on strengthening bipartisan support for Israel.
In response to the backlash, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign accused the Democratic Party of being antisemitic.
Trump’s comments drew further condemnation from a CNN panel, with commentators highlighting the offensiveness and divisiveness of his statements. Some suggested that such outbursts could actually bolster support for President Biden among voters.
Watch the discussion below:
