Conservative commentator Mark Levin blasted the Washington Post for reporting comments made by Democratic lawmakers who say President Trump has not done enough to denounce anti-Semitism in America.
The Washington Post reported in the wake of a machete attack on five Orthodox Jews at a Hanukkah celebration that several Democrats were urging the president to condemn anti-Semitic sentiments more strongly. Levin, however, took issue with the article.
“This is disgraceful and dishonest, especially given all Trump has done in support of the Jewish people,” he tweeted on Monday. “Another Washington Post sleaze job.”
Levin also blasted Democrats for their “tolerance of vocal anti-Semites in their party,” in an apparent reference to freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar — a Muslim congresswoman from Minnesota who has made controversial comments about Israel and the influence of money from Jewish groups in American politics.
This is disgraceful and dishonest, especially given all Trump has done in support of the Jewish people and the Democrats’ disgusting tolerance of vocal anti-Semites in their party. Another Washington Post sleaze job. https://t.co/I3eCy99oPr
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) December 30, 2019
In suburban Rockland County, New York, on Saturday night, a knife-wielding suspect attacked a group of Jewish people gathered for a Hanukkah celebration, severely injuring several people and sending shock waves through the community over the weekend. The suspect in that attack, who reportedly wrote journal entries with references to Adolf Hitler and searched the internet for “Zionist” temple locations, has been charged with federal hate crimes and five counts of attempted murder.
Trump condemned the attack via Twitter on Sunday, vowing to “eradicate” anti-Semitism in the United States.
“The anti-Semitic attack in Monsey, New York, on the 7th night of Hanukkah last night is horrific,” Trump said. “We must all come together to fight, confront, and eradicate the evil scourge of anti-Semitism. Melania and I wish the victims a quick and full recovery.”
The anti-Semitic attack in Monsey, New York, on the 7th night of Hanukkah last night is horrific. We must all come together to fight, confront, and eradicate the evil scourge of anti-Semitism. Melania and I wish the victims a quick and full recovery.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2019
In a separate tweet Monday, Trump thanked the “highly respected Jewish leader Dov Hikind” for saying nice things about him on Fox News.
Thank you to highly respected Jewish leader Dov Hikind for his wonderful statements about me this morning on @foxandfriends.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2019
The Washington Post report cited statements from several Democratic members of Congress who slammed Trump for what they deem to be an unsatisfactory response to hate-filled acts of violence against Jewish people.
“Anti-Semitism is on the rise in America,” Rep. Eric Swalwell said Sunday night. “And it’s being stoked by [Donald Trump] who won’t condemn it and Trump’s lawyer, [Rudy Giuliani], who just this week said he’s ‘more Jewish than Soros.'”
Anti-Semitism is on the rise in America. And it’s being stoked by @realDonaldTrump who won’t condemn it and Trump’s lawyer, @RudyGiuliani, who just this week said he’s “more Jewish than Soros.” ICYMI, my @jdforward op-ed on what we must do: https://t.co/5wVUoVyS5w
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 29, 2019
“His conduct has made unacceptable conduct acceptable,” said Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee.
The paper report cited several instances in which Trump has drawn criticism from Jewish groups for suggesting they “had no choice” but to vote for him or “dipping into a deep well of anti-Semitic tropes” to achieve a political goal.
Democrats and members of the media were outraged in 2017 when Trump, speaking about the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, claimed there were good people “on both sides” of the deadly clash, before later correcting himself and condemning the racist demonstrations.
