The Anti-Defamation League criticized President Donald Trump over his recent name-calling of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Trump repeated a campaign refrain Wednesday when he called Schumer a Palestinian. Schumer is the highest-ranking elected Jewish lawmaker in Washington, D.C., as the Senate minority leader.
“A President has many powers, but none of them include deciding who is and isn’t Jewish. Doing so, and using ‘Palestinian’ as a slur, are both beneath any @POTUS,” the ADL wrote on X. “Instead of weaponizing people’s identity, use the power of the bully pulpit to bring the American people together.”
The comment was made as a result of the New York senator coming to the defense of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil. Khalil is a green card holder who made headlines for his participation in several protests on behalf of Hamas. While Schumer claimed to “abhor” Khalil’s opinions and polices, he accused the Trump administration of violating the First Amendment by ordering ICE to detain him.
Trump issued a veiled response on Truth Social, posting a photo of a message addressed to him without any caption. At the top, it read: “THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP, for standing with Israel during these
challenging times. Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House,” which is a common refrain Trump has said of himself.
“As we approach Passover, we are especially grateful for your efforts in securing the release of many hostages – men and women who have endured unimaginable horrors in captivity. Innocent people torn from their families, held in brutal conditions, and subjected to inhumane treatment at the hands of terrorists. Thanks to you, they were given a second chance at life . . . Your unwavering commitment to combating antisemitism – especially on college campuses has not gone unnoticed,” the message read. “Had you done only one of these things, it would have been enough. DAYENU! (דיינו) But you never stop. Every day, you find new ways to safeguard America — and for that, we are profoundly grateful.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first visitors to the White House during Trump’s second term. The message included a common phrase repeated by Netanyahu, that goes “a strong America means a stronger Israel.”
JOHN KENNEDY SUPPORTS DEPORTATION OF COLUMBIA STUDENT MAHMOUD KHALIL: HE ‘HATES AMERICA’
Trump’s eldest daughter Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism per the instruction of Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York City’s Upper East Side. Her conversion preceded her marriage to Jared Kushner in 2009.
The last time Trump named called Schumer, he simply said Trump was “unhinged” because he was dropping in the polls. At the time, former President Joe Biden was still campaigning to be reelected.