Former President Trump, speaking at two events to raise awareness about fighting anti-Semitism, has suggested that any defeat in the 2024 presidential election would be largely due to the American Jewish vote.
The Republican presidential candidate said he has 40 percent approval rating among the US Jewish American community and slammed Kamala Harris, saying the 60 percent who polled support her are voting for “the enemy”.
“In my opinion, if I got 40 percent approval, Jews would have a lot to do with my defeat,” Trump said at a campaign event titled “Fighting Anti-Semitism” hosted by Israeli-American Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
After the event, Trump repeated similar comments while giving the keynote speech at the Israeli-American Conference, a benefactor of Adelson.
“If I don't win this election — and that's in large part because 60 percent of Jews are voting for me — Israel will be gone within two years,” Trump told a sympathetic and receptive audience. “I believe I'm 100 percent right… If I win, Israel will be safe and secure, and we'll be able to stop the poison that is anti-Semitism.”
The comments drew swift criticism from Harris' supporters and raised alarm among Jewish community leaders.
“Treating Jews and Israel like a political ball makes Jews, Israel and all of us less safe,” said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Public Affairs Council. He said in a statement to the Forward..
“Dividing Jews into camps of 'good' and 'evil' and relying on the trope of dual loyalty further normalizes anti-Semitism and should be condemned by anyone who cares about the safety of Jewish people,” she added. “This is not about partisan politics, it's about the fundamental safety of the Jewish community.”
“If a politician from another country were to say, 'Jews have a lot to do with our defeat,' and preemptively condemn the possibility of Jews losing, that would be the end of their career and their candidacy. It's frightening that people continue to ignore this,” said Alyssa Farrah Griffin, a former Trump administration official who has become an outspoken critic of the former president. Post to social media site X.
“Donald Trump is saying that if he loses this election, 'the Jews' will be blamed. This is vile and dangerous and should be condemned by all Americans. This kind of anti-Semitic rhetoric threatens the safety of Jewish people,” said Andrew Weinstein, who served as Biden's representative to the United Nations and is a Democrat from South Florida. Post to X.
Similarly, Common Defense, a grassroots organization for US veterans, described Trump's comments as “anti-Semitic rhetoric that puts Jewish lives at risk.”
“Donald Trump is saying that if he loses the election, 'the Jews' will be blamed. This is terrible and even more dangerous. Such anti-Semitic rhetoric puts Jewish lives at risk and should be outraged by all Americans,” the group said. X said in a statement..
