The White House and President Biden’s reelection campaign on Monday bashed former President Trump over his comments about Jewish people voting for Democrats.
Trump, in a conversation with conservative radio host Sebastian Gorka, claimed that Democrats have a strong dislike for Israel and that any Jewish person voting for Democrats also holds hatred towards their religion and everything related to Israel, and should feel ashamed because Israel will be destroyed.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates condemned the statement, pointing out its connection to the increasing antisemitic crimes and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Bates stated that President Biden has taken a firm stance against extremely hateful and irrational antisemitic expressions. In light of the rising antisemitic crimes, including the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, leaders have a duty to denounce hate as it is and bring Americans together against it.
He also suggested that Trump is perpetuating a stereotype and referenced the violence in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017.
“There is no justification for spreading toxic, false stereotypes that threaten fellow citizens. None. Like President Biden said, he was moved to run for President when he saw Neo Nazis chanting ‘the same Antisemitic bile that was heard in Germany in the 1930s’ in Charlottesville,” Bates said. “He will never give hate any safe harbor, including today.”
Biden campaign spokesperson James Singer said Trump “should be ashamed” of his comments to Gorka.
“Donald Trump openly demeans Jewish Americans and reportedly thinks Adolf Hitler ‘did some good things.’ He has said the only people he wants counting his money are ‘short guys wearing yarmulkes,’ and praised neo-Nazis who chanted ‘Jews will not replace us’ as ‘very fine people,’” Singer said.
He shared in his statement a CNN report alleging Trump said Hitler did “some good things” and referred to reporting that the former president wanted people in yarmulkes counting his money.
“Trump is going to lose again this November because Americans are sick of his hateful resentment, personal attacks, and extreme agenda,” Singer added.
Trump’s comments come amid tensions between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke on the phone earlier Monday, and they follow Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) recent call for new elections in Israel.