Our First Antisemitic 'Jewish President,' Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump this week hosted leaders of the Jewish community to the traditional candle-lighting ceremony at the White House.
Watching the event was, to put it mildly, like watching a sympathetic television adaptation of the forged antisemitic text about the Jewish conspiracy ruling the world – not openly, but by influencing the power hubs.
Trump treated the audience with demonstrated sympathy and called the people there the "A-list." But it was clear this sympathy came with a price tag. Literally. These people, American Jews or Jewish Americans, had bought his sympathy for millions of dollars. And this sympathy is translated into advancing interests that they see as Israel's interests.
Trump called to the stage Jews to whom he wished to show respect. Journalist Mark Levin put his hand on the president's shoulder and declared, "This is our first Jewish president."
Later, he called Miriam Adelson to the stage and stated she'd contributed to his election campaign "directly and indirectly $250 million." Adelson, for her part, said she'd checked with lawyer Alan Dershowitz on the legal possibility for Trump to run for a third term.
Miriam Adelson next to U.S. President Donald Trump at a Hanukkah reception in the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Tuesday.Credit: Nathan Howard/Reuters
She said: "It's possible. It can be done." Trump replied: "Adelson told me to think about it, and she would donate me another $250 million." Adelson responded immediately: "I will."
The audience applauded with cries of "four more years." And what about the two-term restriction? Don't worry. It was implied that Dershowitz and Adelson will find a way "to deal" with it for the person they see advancing the interests of a foreign state in the Middle East, which for them is a second or first home.
Watching them was hard to believe. Do they think they can't be seen?
Trump didn't hide that he thoroughly understands the nature of his relations with Jews. "My father told me," he said with horrifying lack of awareness, that "the Jewish lobby is the most influential lobby."
Later, he revealed to the public the list of senior Jews who served in his administration: Steve Witkoff, the special envoy; Jason Greenblatt, the former envoy; former ambassador David Friedman (who he says persuaded him in a few minutes to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan); and, of course, Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and legend.
Holocaust survivors Jerry Wartski, Michael Bornstein, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Rabbi Levi Shemtov at Hanukkah event, Tuesday.Credit: AFP/ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
Every time someone dares mention to Israelis and Jews the danger of such blatant Jewish influence on the American administration – influence achieved by financial and electoral power – they say with feigned innocence, "What's the problem with that?"
Amazingly, those are the very same people who are quick to interpret every demonstration against the war in Gaza as a sign of antisemitism rather than as a political protest against Israel's policy in Gaza (and before that, the occupation). In the same breath, they don't see the danger in a public, defiant, uninhibited display of the antisemitic conspiracy about Jews who rule the world behind the scenes.
How can one dismiss the possibility that such acts will nurture the ancient, fallacious antisemitic suspicion of American Jews' dual loyalty, as they wield their power in the American arena to influence policy regarding Israel, including pushing war on its behalf?
Indeed, those who believe antisemitism is a real, dangerous force that appears repeatedly throughout history must exercise double caution. They must not play into the images that feed it, nor flaunt their influence vulgarly before its eyes.
Horrifically, they are doing the exact opposite. Afterward, when the antisemitic bear wakes up, they will not be able to say they didn't see it coming.