Friday, March 8, 2019

What did Donald Trump do today?

He projected some anti-Semitism.

In what appears to have been an attempt to capitalize on a recent controversy over remarks made by Rep. Ilhan Omar, Trump today told reporters that Democrats "have become an anti-Jewish party."

On its face, this is absurd. All but two Jewish members of Congress are Democrats, and every  single Democrat--including Omar--voted for an anti-bigotry resolution that passed yesterday, while number of Republicans objected.

Trump's remarks take on a different color when viewed in light of his own history with antisemitism. He famously referred to neo-Nazis chanting "Jews will not replace us" as "very fine people." He has earned the enthusiastic support of white nationalists and the Ku Klux Klan. 

Trump, who is 72, is fond of indulging in Jewish stereotypes. He once told the Republican Jewish Coalition, "You're not going to support me because I don't want your money." And in what he may have thought of as a backhanded compliment to Jews, in service to anti-black racism, Trump once said this: "Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are short guys that wear yarmulkes every day."

Why should I care about this?

  • Accusing others of traits you possess is called projection, and it's not a sign of good mental health.
  • It's bad if the president is a bigot.