U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz condemned President Donald Trump on Monday for his weekend claim at a Mar-a-Lago political gathering that Democrats “hate Jewish people.”
Wasserman Schultz said it is Trump who has “repeatedly and intentionally” trafficked in anti-Semitic tropes, both as a candidate and since becoming president.
“He is the worst perpetrator of purveying anti-Semitism,” she said in an interview. “The president continues to use dog whistles and train whistles to perpetuate anti-Semitism.”
Wasserman Schultz continued: “He is a hypocrite. He has perpetuated anti-Semitism himself, and now what he is doing is even worse. He is, instead of trying to use the platform that he has to heal the situation, and calm the waters and bring people together, he’s dangerously weaponizing anti-Semitism as a political bludgeon, and that jeopardizes Jewish lives.”
The results of anti-Semitic words translating into action, she said, can be seen in the October 2018 massacre that killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue Pittsburgh.
Anti-Semitic comments by prominent political figures have erupted recently as a newly divisive issue. Trump and Republicans have seized on comments by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, in which she’s said American politicians’ support for Israel is motivated by money and accused Jewish people of having dual loyalties.