Schumer says Trump encouraging anti-Semites

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress, on Wednesday blasted President Trump’s remarks that Jewish people who vote for Democrats are “disloyal.”

“To my fellow American Jews, particularly those who support @realDonaldTrump: When he uses a trope that’s been used against the Jewish people for centuries with dire consequences, he is encouraging—wittingly or unwittingly—anti-Semites throughout the country and world. Enough,” Schumer tweeted.

To my fellow American Jews, particularly those who support @realDonaldTrump: When he uses a trope that’s been used against the Jewish people for centuries with dire consequences, he is encouraging—wittingly or unwittingly—anti-Semites throughout the country and world. Enough. https://t.co/dn1ug4w20Z

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 21, 2019

{mosads}Numerous left-leaning Jewish groups condemned Trump’s remarks Tuesday, in which he accused Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) of anti-Semitism and also said that “Jewish people that vote for a Democrat — I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”

Trump did not explicitly state who he believed Jewish Democrats were “disloyal” to, but Jewish Democratic Council of America Executive Director Halie Soifer said, “If this is about Israel, then Trump is repeating a dual loyalty claim, which is a form of anti-Semitism. If this is about Jews being ‘loyal’ to him, then Trump needs a reality check.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the only Jewish candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for president, also excoriated the statement, saying Tuesday at a Sioux City, Iowa, rally, “I am a proud Jewish person, and I have no concerns about voting Democratic.”