Former President Donald Trump stirred controversy on Sunday night with a post on his Truth Social platform, accusing “liberal Jews” of voting to “destroy” America and Israel. The post came on the weekend of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and urged liberal Jews to “make better choices moving forward.”
It is unclear what prompted Trump’s post, and his campaign has not yet provided a comment. Jewish advocacy organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, have not responded to requests for comment either.
The post appears to have originated from a flyer posted JEXIT, an organization that encourages Jewish Americans to exit the Democratic Party. Michelle Terris, the founder of JEXIT, confirmed that Trump shared the post on Truth Social. Terris expressed gratitude to the former president for his support for the Jewish community and Israel.
However, the American Jewish Committee condemned Trump’s post, stating that it was offensive and divisive to claim that American Jews who did not vote for him were destroying America and Israel. Trump’s rhetoric plays into antisemitic stereotypes that imply dual loyalties among American Jews and perpetuate false notions of broad support in Israel for his policies.
This is not the first time Trump has faced criticism for his remarks about Jewish Americans and Israel. In the past, he made comments suggesting that Jews in the U.S. should “appreciate” Israel more and claimed that evangelical Christians loved Israel more than American Jews. His response to the 2017 violence in Charlottesville, where white nationalists chanted anti-Semitic slogans, also drew criticism.
Trump’s recent post on Truth Social has reignited the debate surrounding his treatment of Jewish Americans and his understanding of the U.S.-Israel relationship. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact his political future and further deepen divisions within the Jewish community.
Sources:
– NBC News
– Anti-Defamation League
– American Israel Public Affairs Committee
– J Street
– JEXIT
– American Jewish Committee
– Pew Research Center
