Remembering Donald Trump: "Fake Jews"

President Trump has made comments suggesting that American Jews who vote for Democrats are disloyal to Israel. This is the second time in two days that Trump has questioned the loyalty to Israel of Jewish people who vote for the Democratic Party. Trump's comments show a lack of understanding about why Jewish Americans vote the way they do, which is primarily for the Democratic Party. While Israel is a crucial issue for Jewish voters, it is not the only determining factor in their voting decisions. Jewish people who vote for the Democratic Party also care about social justice, health care, climate change, and the welfare of immigrants, among other issues.  

Jewish voters have voted overwhelmingly Democratic since 1968, with an average of 71% voting for Democrats in presidential elections. Trump hopes to win over some Jewish voters in the upcoming election, but his strategy has failed for Republicans in the past. Jewish voters also went for Democrats in the 2018 midterms by an even higher percentage than usual. Trump's "disloyalty" claim reminds some of an anti-Semitic trope that Jews are disloyal to the country in which they live. It is a centuries-old idea that dates back to European monarchies.