Jake Tapper Calls Trump Comments ‘Jaw Dropping’ as ADL Chief Slams Use of ‘Classic Anti-Semitic Stereotypes’
Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Former President Donald Trump’s recent comments about Israel kicked off a firestorm Friday, resulting in the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) labeling them “classic antisemitic stereotypes.”
The controversial comments were released Friday in new audio of Trump discussing U.S.-Israeli relations with Axios reporter Barak Ravid. In the clip, Trump says, “There’s people in this country that are Jewish no longer love Israel. I’ll tell you the evangelical Christians love Israel more than the Jews in this country.”
New quotes from Trump to @BarakRavid: Most US Jews don’t love Israel. Exclusive for Unholy podcast
@Freedland pic.twitter.com/Hv4joYkbCN— Yonit Levi (@LeviYonit) December 17, 2021
“It used to be that Israel had absolute power over Congress, and today I think it’s the exact opposite,” he continued. “And I think Obama and Biden did that. And yet in the election, they still get a lot of votes from Jewish people, which tells you that the Jewish people, and I’ve said this for a long time, the Jewish people in the United States, either don’t like Israel or don’t care about Israel.”
Trump continued, “I mean you look at the New York Times, the New York Times hates Israel. Hates them. And they’re Jewish people that run the New York Times, I mean the Sulzberger family.”
The comments quickly sparked fierce condemnations.
The head of the ADL, Jonathan Greenblatt, responded, “Once again, former President Trump has linked his lack of strong support among most US Jews to their feelings about Israel and used classic #antisemitic stereotypes about Israeli and Jewish control of Congress and the press to bolster his argument.”
Once again, former President Trump has linked his lack of strong support among most US Jews to their feelings about Israel and used classic #antisemitic stereotypes about Israeli and Jewish control of Congress and the press to bolster his argument.https://t.co/5hVfvvn6rm
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) December 17, 2021
“Let me be clear: insinuating that Israel or the Jews control Congress or the media is antisemitic, plain and simple. Unfortunately, this is not the first time he has made these offensive remarks,” Greenblatt continued.
Let me be clear: insinuating that Israel or the Jews control Congress or the media is antisemitic, plain and simple. Unfortunately, this is not the first time he has made these offensive remarks.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) December 17, 2021
CNN’s Jake Tapper called the comments “jaw dropping.” New York Magazine’s Jonathan Chait went further, calling Trump “The most anti-semitic president in history, and it isn’t close.”
The most anti-semitic president in history, and it isn’t close https://t.co/srIvYjAPw4
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) December 17, 2021
Republican Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel, who is Jewish, defended Trump, saying “Unlike most liberal Jews, President Trump actually has Jewish grandkids. Trump was the best President for Israel and the Jewish people. Period.”
Unlike most liberal Jews, President Trump actually has Jewish grandkids.
Trump was the best President for Israel and the Jewish people. Period. https://t.co/VCsaBZthXs
— Josh Mandel (@JoshMandelOhio) December 17, 2021
Trump’s comments are the latest in a string of revelations reported by Ravid, who in recent weeks reported on a growing divide between Trump and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After Netanyahu congratulated Joe Biden for winning the 2020 election, Trump said, “I haven’t spoken to him since, fuck him.”
The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Trump’s vulgar remark directed at Netanyahu has ruffled feathers among his evangelical supporters.
Mike Evans, one of Trump’s early evangelical backers, was “horrified” by the remark and shared with the Post a letter he wrote Trump urging him to “understand that Benjamin Netanyahu has much greater support among evangelicals in America than you.”
