Jewish groups criticized former President Donald Trump after he shared a post targeting “liberal Jews” following the start of Rosh Hashanah, one of the most important holidays for Jewish people around the world.
Trump on Truth Social shared another post on Sunday that read: “Just a quick reminder for liberal Jews who voted to destroy America and Israel because you believed in false narratives.” The post also included a list of the former president’s actions during his time in office that focused on Israel, such as the controversial choice to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Confusing American Jewish people with Israelis, or their political views with those of the Israeli government, is a long-standing anti-Semitic trope.
The original message Trump shared appeared to be created by the organization JEXIT, the Washington Post reported. According to their website, the group encourages Jewish Americans to leave the Democratic Party.
The message was immediately denounced by other Jewish groups in the US. Groups also criticized the timing of the message, which came during the holiest time of year for Jewish people. Trump shared the message at the end of Rosh Hashanah, which marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement and the holiest holiday for Jewish people, approaches next week.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement to USA TODAY: “It is dangerous and wrong to suggest that an entire segment of the Jewish population voted to destroy America and Israel.”
“Whether intentional or not, President Trump is playing into conspiracy theories about dual loyalty. Even worse, this happens on one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah,” Greenblatt added.
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, placed on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, where the former president “marked the end of Rosh Hashanah with an anti-Semitic post accusing the Jews who voted against him of ‘annihilation’.”[ing] America and Israel.’”
The American Jewish Committee tweeted Monday: “To claim that American Jews who did not vote for Mr. Trump voted to destroy America and Israel is deeply insulting and divisive.”
“As we approach one year until the next election, we urge political candidates from top to bottom to avoid inflammatory rhetoric,” the group added.
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said in a statement that the group condemns “the anti-Semitic threat that Donald Trump made on Rosh Hashanah.”
“At a time of rising anti-Semitism in the United States, this hatred and bigotry should not be normalized, even by the party Trump leads,” Soifer added.
It is not the first time that Trump has criticized comments about Jewish voters. Trump last year attacked Jewish Americans for not giving him enough political contributions, falsely suggesting they have dual loyalties to the United States and Israel.
Jewish American groups also criticized Trump in 2019 for calling Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu “your prime minister” during a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition, among other incidents.
Contributing: William Cummings and David Jackson, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jewish groups criticize Donald Trump’s post targeting ‘liberal Jews’
