Too up himself to have any views on Jews

1) The NY Times Editorial Board on the President’s absurd press conference; 2) Asher Schechter suggests Jews are too self-centred to see how self-centred Trump is.

Jake Turx asks Pres. Trump for his thoughts on the increase in antisemitic incidents in the US. The President replies “Well, I just want to say that we are, you know, very honoured by the victory that we had — 316 Electoral College votes. We were not supposed to crack 220. You know that, right?” Turx works for Ami magazine, a news magazine that caters to the Orthodox Jewish community, published weekly in New York and Israel.

Donald Trump’s Answer to Anti-Semitism? You Don’t Want to Know

By the Editorial Board, NY Times
February 16, 2017

The question put to President Trump at a White House news conference on Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was pretty straightforward. An Israeli reporter wanted to know about the rise of antisemitic incidents in the United States and concerns that the new administration was encouraging xenophobia and racism.

For a normal American politician, the moment offered a perfect opportunity for a home run. Condemn the behavior and make a sincere pledge to do everything possible to stop it. There is no question that hate crimes and malicious speech have accelerated since the presidential campaign, with Jews among the prime targets. The Anti-Defamation League says antisemitic talk in the United States has reached levels unseen since the 1930s. And there have been bomb threats against Jewish centers across the country.

Mr. Trump, alas, is not that politician. He lacks the principles and moral understanding that most Americans want to see in their presidents. In fact, his answer summed up just how far we have traveled from normal. As is so often the case, he began with a focus on himself and skirted the issue.

“Well, I just want to say that we are, you know, very honored by the victory that we had — 316 Electoral College votes,” Mr. Trump said. “We were not supposed to crack 220. You know that, right? There was no way to 221, but then they said there’s no way to 270. And there’s tremendous enthusiasm out there.”

It was as if his brain had short-circuited or someone had hit some internal replay button in his brain.

Mr. Trump went on to promise to “have peace in this country” and to “stop crime,” which could mean stopping hate crimes, but could just as easily mean a crackdown on speeding. As for racism and antisemitism, he said “bad things” have happened “over a long period of time” and gave no hint of appreciating how his nationalistic, anti-immigrant policies and fear-mongering have been a dog whistle for the alt-right.

Once again, he exploited the Jewish members of his family to bolster his credibility, noting “as far as people, Jewish people, so many friends; a daughter who happens to be here right now; a son-in-law; and three beautiful grandchildren.” His bottom line: “You’re going to see a lot of love.”

This is the same man whose White House recently issued a statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day that said nothing about the six million Jews who perished under the Nazis.

Mr. Trump’s abominable answer to the antisemitism question on Wednesday drew considerable criticism in the Israeli press and elsewhere, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise when a different reporter reprised it at another news conference on Thursday.

Mr. Trump ordered the reporter to sit down before the question was even finished. “No. 1: I’m the least antisemitic person you have ever seen in your entire life,” Mr. Trump insisted and “No. 2: Racism. The least racist person.”

Mr. Trump derided the question as “very insulting.” Then he played his ace card by invoking Mr. Netanyahu, who one day earlier awarded Mr. Trump his personal imprimatur and political cover by declaring “there is no greater supporter of the Jewish people and the Jewish state” than the new American president.

No, Donald Trump Is Not an anti-Semite. Accusing Him of Being One Dangerously Misses the Point

In order to fight Trump, we must stop being so righteous and admit to ourselves that he is simply an opportunist who stokes racism for his own purposes.

Asher Schechter, Haaretz premium
February 19, 2017

Building up Trump’s antisemitism seems right, but is hugely distracting from the really horrible things Trump is doing to other marginalized groups. Andrew Harnik/AP

Lately, it has become self-evident, at least in some liberal circles, that Donald Trump is an antisemite.

Following Trump’s bizarre news conference last week, including his unprovoked scolding of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish reporter who simply asked him if he’s concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism in America, Bradley Burston argued in Haaretz that “Yes, Donald Trump IS an anti-Semite.” Steven Goldstein, Executive Director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, accused Trump of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial for his refusal to mention Jews in the administration’s statement for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

There is no doubt that the president is troublingly tolerant toward displays of antisemitism. The evidence is just too compelling.

To begin, there are his repeated retweets of white supremacists, his initial hesitance to disavow the endorsement of former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke, and let’s not forget the “Sheriff’s Star” controversy. Then there was this campaign ad filled with anti-Semitic dog-whistles. And the appointment of Steve Bannon as chief strategist and senior counselor. And the omission of Jews from his Holocaust Remembrance Day statement, with the strange excuse that, well, Nazis killed other people too.

And, of course, there’s Trump’s insistent, mind-boggling refusal to address the wave of antisemitic incidents in the United States in the months since he got elected: desecrated synagogues, proliferation of antisemitic imagery in social media, a wave of bomb threats against Jewish community centers – Hell, even PewDiePie* is apparently in on it.

All this presents a pretty strong case that Trump is, at the very least, indifferent to antisemitism. But as a case for Trump being antisemitic himself, this is dubious. Most of this can be seen as simple opportunism, Trump refusing to disavow the one group in America that actually likes him: racists. The omission of Jews from the Holocaust Remembrance statement and the ensuing defensiveness about it could just as well be yet another screw-up of an incompetent administration that, instead of admitting errors, prefers to double down on them.

Trump has no ideological bone in his body

And yes, Trump did berate a Jewish reporter who asked him a question about antisemitism. That, in itself, is not evidence of anything. Trump berates all journalists.

And yes, when asked about the rise in antisemitic incidences during his joint press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump did respond by touting his Electoral College victory. Again, that in itself is not proof of anything other than the fact that Trump is a huge egomaniac. What else is new? Trump will likely tout his Electoral College victory if you ask him the time, let alone a question that he’s not interested in answering.

So no, Trump is probably not the “least antisemitic” person you’ll ever meet, as he claimed last week. The curious phraseology of that sentence, which seems to imply that all people must be at least somewhat antisemitic, is evidence of that. But Trump is likely not an antisemite himself – as much as a racist 70-year-old billionaire can be, anyway.

Accusing Trump of being antisemitic ignores everything we know about the man – namely, that he has no ideological bone in his body. Moreover, it is dangerous, in that it detracts from the credibility of other criticisms of Trump, and distracts from some of the really horrible things that he does.

So if Trump is not an antisemite, what is he, and how can we explain his insistent refusal to denounce the antisemitic tendencies and actions of some of his supporters?

To answer this question, we first have to remember some of the things that we know for certain about Trump. One: He is a consummate opportunist. Trump will literally say anything to win, and his tendency to say whatever best suits his interests at the moment, even at the price of self-contradiction and moral abasement, is well documented.

the only belief that he has consistently adhered to is the enrichment and gratification of Donald J. Trump

Trump rode a huge wave of nativist rage all the way to the White House. Now that he is an astoundingly unpopular president, anyone who thinks he will risk alienating the radical base that got him elected – again, the one group of people in America that still feels enthusiastic about his presidency – is delusional.

But there isn’t a trace of ideology here. Suggesting that Trump has a coherent worldview is an insult to the concept of coherence. His whole life, the only belief that he has consistently adhered to is the enrichment and gratification of Donald J. Trump. That is how his administration can include both Steve Bannon and Steven Mnuchin. If you’re looking for a common thread here, it’s not that all three are anti-Semites. It’s that all three are racist kleptocrats.

Two: Trump is thin-skinned and easily triggered. He is also paranoid, meaning he sees hostility everywhere. The most innocuous question can sometime make him snap.

Three: Trump is an authoritarian who hates dissent and viciously attacks those who defy him. He hates the Hollywood liberals who mock him. He hates the courts that deny him. He hates the press that scrutinizes him. He hates academia for bothering with facts that contradict his statements. Know what these industries and institutions all share? A disproportionate number of Jews.

Last, but not least: Trump is very, very crass.

All of this combined creates the appearance of antisemitism. But the truth of the matter is, Jews are not the centre of this story. In the month since his inauguration, the Trump administration has implemented some horrible policies against Muslims, refugees, immigrants, LGBT people and women. To date, there have been no policies targeting Jews specifically. You might argue those are coming, but this is doubtful.

Building up Trump’s antisemitism seems right, but is hugely distracting from the really horrible things Trump is doing to other marginalized groups, who find themselves in much more precarious positions these days. Muslim-Americans, for instance, have been exposed to far more violence and vitriol in the past three months.

The truth is, as troubling as Trump’s refusal to acknowledge antisemitism is, Jews are not the target of this administration. At best, they are collateral damage.

NOTES AND LINKS

* Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, known online as PewDiePie, is a Swedish web-based comedian and video producer.

In contrast:
Opinion Yes, Donald Trump IS an anti-Semite, Bradley Burston, Haaretz premium