White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley accused the media of being “disingenuous” for refusing “to call out anti-Semitism” during an interview on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom.
Gidley was discussing the recent debacle involving Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar who were supposed to travel to Israel last week. They did not end up going to the Middle East ally because the Israeli government barred them, after a public appeal from President Trump, citing their support of the boycott, divestment, and sanction movement.
He was asked where the feud between Trump and the prominent congresswomen “will go next.”
“It depends because the president is standing up for the American people, he’s standing up for our ally in Israel, but these two women are clearly against the existence even of Israel,” Gidley answered. “I have to say when they come out and say that Israel didn’t want us to come there because we are Muslim, nothing could be further from the truth.”
He went on, “What we have a problem with is the American media who refuse to call out anti-Semitism for what it is. Instead, they characterize it as opening a conversation about Israel’s control. That is complete garbage and it’s disingenuous. The Democrats are encouraging this behavior and the media are allowing it to happen.”
Following the cancellation of their trip, Omar and Tlaib held a press conference on Monday afternoon to address the situation. During it, they attacked both Trump and the Israeli government for barring them and for their treatment of Palestinians.
Sorry, I don’t buy Rep. Tlaib’s tears. I have watched her violence, craziness and, most importantly, WORDS, for far too long. Now tears? She hates Israel and all Jewish people. She is an anti-Semite. She and her 3 friends are the new face of the Democrat Party. Live with it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2019
The president acknowledged Tlaib on social media Tuesday morning saying that he doesn’t “buy Rep. Tlaib’s tears.”
