Former President Donald J. Trump criticized President Biden for threatening to halt weapons supplies to Israel, and he went on to condemn American Jews who support Mr. Biden, insinuating that they were turning their backs on their religious and cultural heritage.
While facing trial in Manhattan for charges related to a campaign scandal in 2016, Mr. Trump labeled Mr. Biden’s Israel policy as “disgraceful” and expressed his disappointment with any Jewish person who voted for Mr. Biden, stating that they should be ashamed of themselves.
In response to Mr. Biden’s remarks on Israel, Mr. Trump advised American Jews, a majority of whom lean liberal, not to support Mr. Biden in the upcoming election. He also released a video on social media where he accused Mr. Biden of hating the Jewish people and suggested that Jewish voters should reconsider their choice.
In his efforts to undermine Mr. Biden, Mr. Trump has been targeting Jewish voters who align with the Democratic Party, especially in light of the conflict in Gaza. He has been vocal in his support for Israel and has been critical of Democrats’ handling of the situation.
Contrary to Mr. Trump’s accusations, Mr. Biden has reaffirmed his support for Jewish Americans and condemned antisemitism in the United States. His administration is under pressure to address the conflict in Gaza while backing Israel’s right to defend itself.
Following Mr. Trump’s remarks, a Biden campaign spokesperson denounced his comments as antisemitic and accused him of disrespecting Jewish voters. Mr. Trump has a history of using antisemitic rhetoric, including questioning the loyalty of American Jews who do not support him.
Mr. Trump and other Republicans have capitalized on campus protests related to Israel’s actions in Gaza to paint Democrats as antisemitic. Despite Mr. Trump’s past remarks on the Charlottesville rally, he now downplays the actions of right-wing participants and emphasizes the impact of anti-Israel protests.
While appealing to Jewish voters, Mr. Trump has also tried to tap into the discontent among Arab Americans over the Biden administration’s stance on Gaza. He has accused Mr. Biden of favoring Israel over Palestinians and has discussed running ads in Michigan to target Arab American voters.
