American Jewish groups are publicly blasting former President Donald Trump for his assertion that “the Jewish people would have a lot to do with it” if he loses the election.
Trump’s remark, made in a Thursday speech to a Jewish audience in Washington, D.C., aligns with his past expressions of frustration toward American Jews for their tendency to vote for Democrats.
He has accused them of ingratitude since the 2020 election, when 77% of Jewish voters cast ballots for President Joe Biden according to a J Street poll (68% according to an Associated Press survey.) A recent poll sponsored by a Democratic group shows Jewish American voters will overwhelmingly vote for Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump.
Trump’s speech, which was billed as an address to outline his plan to combat antisemitism, was one of two he made to Jewish groups on Thursday. In the second, delivered to the Israeli American Council, he also trafficked in antisemitic tropes and stereotypes, and what the Anti-Defamation League called “rampant accusations of dual loyalty” in a Friday statement.
Trump has raised the ire of Jewish groups before for using language accusing Jews of dual loyalty — a longstanding antisemitic trope — and for fraternizing with antisemites and white supremacists. But his comments Thursday, which included his claim that Israel would face “total annihilation” if Vice President Kamala Harris wins the presidential election, went “one step further,” as one Jewish Democratic activist put it, prompting a more robust reaction.
More conservative Jewish Americans, however, including those in the audience Thursday, had a starkly different take on Trump’s message Thursday. “A tour de force,” the Republican Jewish Coalition called it.
Here are some of their statements, which have been edited for length and clarity.
The American Jewish Committee
Whoever a majority of the Jewish community votes for, Jews — roughly 2% of the U.S. population — cannot and should not be blamed for the outcome of the election. Setting up anyone to say ‘we lost because of the Jews’ is outrageous and dangerous. Thousands of years of history have shown that scapegoating Jews can lead to antisemitic hate and violence.
Like all Americans, some Jews will vote for President Trump and some will vote for Vice President Harris. Both candidates should work to earn the support of our community based on policy. But let’s not make this election and its outcome about the Jews.
