New York — Former President Donald Trump on Monday charged that Jews who vote for Democrats "hate Israel" and hate "their religion," igniting a firestorm of criticism from the White House and Jewish leaders.
Trump, in an interview, had been asked about Democrats' growing criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the war in Gaza as the civilian death toll continues to mount.
"I actually think they hate Israel," Trump responded to his former aide, Sebastian Gorka. "I think they hate Israel. And the Democrat party hates Israel."
Trump, who last week became the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, went on to charge that, "Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed."
The comments sparked immediate backlash from the White House, President Biden's campaign and Jewish leaders.
The vast majority of Jewish Americans identify as Democrats, but Trump has often accused them of disloyalty, perpetuating what critics say is an antisemitic trope.
At the White House, spokesperson Andrew Bates cast the comments as "vile and unhinged Antisemitic rhetoric" without mentioning Trump by name.
Amid a rise in Antisemitic crimes worldwide, with the recent deadliest attack against the Jewish community, leaders are urged to denounce hate and unite Americans against it. "There is no excuse for spreading harmful, untrue stereotypes that endanger our fellow citizens. None," stated a spokesperson.
According to Mr. Biden's campaign, "The only one who should feel ashamed is Donald Trump."
"Trump is set to face defeat this November due to his divisive rhetoric, personal insults, and radical policies," said campaign spokesman James Singer.
Jonathan Greenblatt, leader of the Anti-Defamation League, condemned accusations against Jews and emphasized the importance of bipartisan support for Israel.
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, criticized Trump for his repeated attacks on American Jews, calling them "depraved antisemitic screeds."
Trump's remarks come as pressure mounts on Mr. Biden from the progressive wing of his party regarding his stance on Israel's actions in Gaza. The conflict has resulted in a high number of casualties on both sides.
While President Biden continues to support Israel's right to defend itself, he has started to criticize Netanyahu more openly. Following his State of the Union address, he mentioned the need for a serious conversation with the Israeli leader. Biden has gone as far as accusing Netanyahu of causing more harm than good to Israel, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the innocent lives lost due to current actions.
On Monday, the president and Netanyahu finally had a conversation after more than a month of silence. The White House stated that Biden expressed his deep concerns regarding the potential of Israel launching a major ground operation in Rafah, where over a million displaced civilians are seeking refuge after fleeing the conflict in the north. Netanyahu agreed to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington to discuss the possible Rafah operation with Biden administration representatives, as confirmed by White House and national security advisor Jake Sullivan.
Former President Trump criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for his recent remarks. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country, openly condemned Netanyahu's management of the Gaza conflict in a speech, cautioning that the civilian casualties were tarnishing Israel's global reputation and calling for new elections in the country.
Although the White House officially distanced itself from Schumer's statements, the sentiment expressed by the Democratic leader reflects a growing opinion within President Biden's administration. Trump, accusing Schumer of being "very anti-Israel now," faced a rebuttal from Schumer, who accused Trump of making divisive and hateful comments.
"Turning Israel into a political battleground only harms both Israel and the US-Israeli alliance," a statement read on X.
A recent study by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that American sentiment towards Israel's military actions in Gaza has soured. In January, 50% of American adults believed that Israel's military response in the Gaza Strip had crossed a line, a significant increase from 40% in November.
This sentiment was even more pronounced among Democrats, with 6 out of 10 expressing the same opinion in both surveys.
