At Jersey Shore Fundraiser, Trump Says Democrats Hate Jews; Urges Them to Support GOP

At Jersey Shore Fundraiser, Trump Says Democrats Hate Jews; Urges Them to Support GOP

Edited by: Fern Sidman

At a campaign event on Sunday, former President and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump leveled serious accusations against the Democratic Party, saying most definitively that they harbor anti-Semitic sentiments and “hate Israel,” according to a report on the World Israel News web site. The closed event, held in Deal, New Jersey at the home of the Chera family saw Trump addressing a mix of supporters and Jewish donors and receiving thunderous applause for his bold statements.

During the event in Deal, Trump urged Jewish Americans to reconsider their political allegiance and support the Republican Party, asserting that the Democrats have become hostile towards Israel and the Jewish people.

Trump did not mince words during his address, making sweeping accusations about the Democratic Party’s stance on Israel and Jewish people. “The Democrats hate Israel. The Democrats largely hate the Jewish people,” Trump declared, as was indicated in the WIN report.  He called on Jewish voters to “step up and vote for Republicans and vote for Donald Trump,” framing the upcoming election as a critical juncture for the Jewish community in America.

The timing of Trump’s remarks is significant, coming just a week after President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Biden’s decision to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination has since catalyzed a dramatic shift in the political landscape. Harris has managed to raise an astonishing $200 million in just one week, a clear indication of renewed confidence among Democratic donors who had previously been hesitant to support Biden’s campaign due to doubts about his ability to defeat Trump.

During the event, Trump shared insights from a conversation held on Friday afternoon at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. WIN reported that Trump recounted asking Netanyahu about the voting patterns of American Jews, expressing his bewilderment over their tendency to support Democratic candidates.

“I said: ‘Bibi, let me ask you a question. Why is it – how is it – that people that are Jewish vote Democrat?’ He said it’s a habit – it is almost a habit. That’s true, they are used to voting for Democrats.”

This anecdote underscores Trump’s longstanding frustration with a paradox in Jewish American political behavior. According to the information provided in the WIN report, despite his administration’s staunchly pro-Israel policies, including the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the majority of American Jews have continued to align with the Democratic Party.

The relationship between American Jews and the Democratic Party is deeply rooted in historical and social contexts. For much of the 20th century, the Democratic Party was seen as a champion of civil rights and social justice, values that resonated strongly with the Jewish community. Additionally, the Democrats’ progressive stance on issues such as immigration, healthcare, and education has traditionally aligned with the priorities of many Jewish voters.

However, Trump’s assertion that Democrats “hate Israel” taps into a broader and more recent political narrative. There has been a growing concern among some segments of the Jewish community about the rise of far left wing, woke, progressive voices within the Democratic Party who are highly critical of Israeli government policies, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as per the WIN report. Figures such as Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib have been vocal critics of Israel, advocating for Hamas and other Iranian terrorist proxies in the Middle East as well as staunchly opposing U.S. military aid to Israel.

Trump’s strategy of highlighting clear cut Democratic anti-Semitism is aimed at galvanizing his base and attracting Jewish voters who feel alienated by the party’s progressive wing. By positioning himself as a staunch ally of Israel and a defender against anti-Semitism that he is, Trump hopes to make inroads with Jewish voters who have traditionally supported Democrats.

Trump’s speech also included harsh criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris, following her meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C. According to the information in the WIN report, Trump described the meeting as “terrible” and “insulting,” accusing Harris of disrespecting Netanyahu and failing to uphold her duties as Vice President.

“P.M. Netanyahu of Israel had a terrible and ‘insulting’ meeting in D.C. with Kamala Harris, who also refused to preside over Congress during his speech, which is an obligation of the V.P. Rarely has such a thing happened,” Trump said.

In addition to his comments on Harris and the Democratic Party, Trump made a direct appeal to Jewish voters, questioning their loyalty to the Democratic Party. “Any Jewish person that votes for Kamala, or a Democrat, should immediately have their head examined,” Trump stated, as was reported by WIN. He extended this appeal to Catholic voters as well, claiming they are being persecuted by the current administration. “Likewise Catholics, who are being persecuted by this Administration, should not be voting for Radical Left Kamala. VOTE TRUMP 2024. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

This narrative is indicative of Trump’s broader campaign strategy, which seeks to rally diverse religious groups by highlighting the very real threats to their interests and values under Democratic leadership. By framing the election as a battle between the protection of religious freedoms and overt Democratic hostility, Trump hopes to galvanize a broad coalition of voters who feel marginalized or threatened by the current administration.

Also in attendance at the campaign event in Deal, New Jersey were Ed Cox, the current chairman of the New York Republican State Committee, Lee Zeldin, who represented New York’s 1st congressional district in the US House from 2015 to 2023, Rep. Michael Lawler, who has represented New York’s 17th congressional district since 2023, and Bruce Blakeman, who is currently serving as the 10th County Executive of Nassau County, New York.

Delivering a powerful and energizing address was Rep. Elise Stefanik, who represents New York’s 21st congressional district. As chair of the House Republican Conference since 2021, she is the fourth-ranking House Republican and has earned a stellar reputation as a bold and vocal opponent of anti-Semitism on college campuses.

Also on hand were real estate developer Charles Kushner and his wife Seryl.  Kushner’s son Jared is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka.  Ralph Herzka, the Founder and Senior Chairman of Meridian Capital Group was also in attendance as well along with his wife.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a vocal advocate for Israel who represents the 2nd district of New Jersey was present along with United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On July 24th, in conjunction with Rep. Stefanik, Senator Hagerty sent a letter to President Joe Biden demanding his administration clearly state their unwavering support for Israel’s right to defend its sovereign borders against Hezbollah’s illegal attacks.

“We write to express our strong support for Israel’s right to self-defense amid the intensifying attacks that Israel faces from Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon,” Stefanik and Hagerty wrote.  “Since Hamas’s barbaric October 7 attacks across Israel’s southern border, Israel has endured over 19,000 Iranian-backed missile and drone attacks from all fronts.  Hezbollah alone has launched over 5,820 rocket, missile, and drone attacks into northern Israel that have killed 33 Israelis and forced more than 60,000 Israelis to uproot their lives and flee their homes. Israel should not have to live under constant fear of aerial attack and has the legal right and moral obligation to defend its sovereign borders and its people. Hence, we urge you to unequivocally support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah’s attacks, and to provide in a timely manner the support necessary to restore peace and security.”

The hostess of the event was the elegant Cookie Chera, the widow of real estate developer Stanley Chera, of blessed memory who was a personal friend and business associate of President Trump. Other hosts of the event included the Chera family, Joe Cayre and Andrea and Steve Wynn.