WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Donald Trump spent much of his 20-minute call with American Jewish leaders making the case for more American Jews to vote for him. He closed by repeating a line that has raised their eyebrows before.
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“We really appreciate you,” Trump said as he signed off the call, an annual pre-Rosh Hashanah presidential tradition. “We love your country also.”
Earlier, introducing his Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who brokered the historic deals with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain that were signed Tuesday at the White House, Trump called him “an unbelievable leader for Israel.”
The comments echoed others he has made in the past that suggest that American Jews think of themselves as Israelis, including at a White House Hanukkah party two years ago.
Trump’s comments on the call also blurred the line between White House events and campaigning. Until his presidency, campaign appeals have been seen as unethical, if not illegal.
He pressed listeners to campaign for him and suggested that Israel would suffer if he is not reelected this fall.
“I have to say this, whatever you can do in terms of Nov. 3 is going to be very important because if we don’t win, Israel is in big trouble,” Trump said.
The president listed what the United States was doing for Israel, saying it paid $4.2 billion in annual assistance to the country. The figure is $3.8 billion and stems from a deal brokered by Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama.
“We’re in the Middle East because of Israel,” Trump said, a position at odds with the myriad interests, including the free flow of oil, that the United States has in the region.
Arthur Stark, the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, asked about Trump’s plans to assist Israel in confronting actors such as Iran and Turkey who back terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Trump’s reply, again: Vote for Republicans.
“This is really a time that’s very important in the life of Israel and the safety of Israel. And we will do a great job,” he said. “If the other side gets in all bets are off. I think it’ll be a whole different story. I think it’ll be exactly the opposite.”
Trump also noted that he exited the Iran nuclear deal, which Israel reviled, and said Obama, who brokered the 2015 sanctions relief for nuclear rollback deal, humiliated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I remember Bibi coming over and begging him, begging him to a point of humiliation that please don’t do the Iran deal,” Trump said. “He did it. I broke it, but he did it. And yet the Democrats get 75% sort of like habit. It’s automatic. I hope you can do better with that. I hope you can explain to people what’s going on.”
Jews traditionally vote in large numbers for the Democratic presidential nominee. A poll this week showed Joe Biden getting 67% of the vote and Trump 30%. But Jewish voters in swing states, particularly Florida, could swing what may be a close election, and Trump signaled that he was mystified about why he would not command a larger share of the Jewish vote.
“Which really amazes me, and I have to tell you, because I saw a poll that in the last election, I got 25% of the Jewish vote and I said here I have a son-in-law and a daughter who are Jewish, I have beautiful grandchildren that are Jewish. I have all of these incredible achievements,” Trump said. “I’m amazed that it seems to be almost automatically a Democrat.”
The full audio of the phone conference is below.
The vast majority of Jews will vote for Biden because they know that a president who doesn’t recognize that Jews are Americans is “not good for Jews” A president who thinks people that march with neo-nazi’s are fine people and who takes days to distance himself from David Duke and can’t criticize Steven King is “not good for the Jews” They also know that a president that stokes the flames or racial violence and creates ethnic divisions is not “good for the Jews”. A president that puts lives at risk by scorning those that wears masks and who does everything in his power to take away insurance from millions of people during a pandemic is not good for Jews or for any American’s for that matter. They will follow the sage advice of Ted Cruz at that 2016 convention and they will “vote your conscience.” Jews will vote Biden because Biden is the better candidate for Jews, for America and for Democracy. The next president of the United States will be holding an online pre-Rosh Hashanah meeting tomorrow afternoon. All are welcome to join.
Jews – vote for Trump like your life depends on it, because in many ways it does! Democrats in powers means: Importing millions of muslims to terrorize us, Race war and physical attacks on jews will now be sanctioned and blessed, more Wealth redistribution, Going after conservaties in earnest including physically eliminating them, AND whatever else is necessary to stay in power indefinitely.
He has certainly proven that he loves us
He seems to think American Jews have dual loyalty.
So many here are so short-term focused on “winning” that they lose sight of the lessons of history.
It does not seem wise to suggest that the Jewish vote should be primarily dependent on America’s policy with regard to Israel. For one, it is a lie (as Trump himself noted he did not get the majority of the vote) and two it risks giving more power to the antisemitic canard that Jews have dual loyalty.
There is absolutely nothing Donald Trump can do to get my vote. I’ve had enough of his lies and broken promises. He promised to reveal his great health care program weeks ago and said last night that it’s ready. Let’s see it.
The man has told thousands of lies and has boasted about his great handling of the virus despite almost 200,000 dead Americans. Last week we learned that despite telling us that it was harmless he admitted in taped conversations that he was aware of the seriousness.