Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Thursday invoked a
series of stereotypes about Jews that are often deemed offensive and even
anti-Semitic — in an address to Jewish Republicans.
“I’m a negotiator like you folks were negotiators,” the controversial
candidate declared to his audience at the Republican Jewish Coalition, as he
explained that he would broker a stronger nuclear deal with Iran than the one
concluded earlier this year. At another point in his speech, he said: “Is there
anyone in this room who doesn’t negotiate deals? Probably more than any room
I’ve ever spoken.”
His speech came at the tail end of a morning of addresses in which the
other Republican candidates boasted of their pro-Israel credentials and their
close ties to the US Jewish community.
Although Trump did reiterate his tight ties with his “friend” Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, the audience wasn’t tolerant of the mogul’s attempts to
duck a question on Jerusalem. Asked about his position on the unification of
the Israeli capital, Trump refused to commit – as most Republican candidates
have – to declaring the city to be the eternal capital of the Jewish state, and
was greeted with boos.
However, the audience did not offer any negative response when Trump
told them, “You’re not gonna support me even though you know I’m the best thing
that could ever happen to Israel. And I’ll be that.” He continued, evoking a
stereotype about Jews, money and control, “And I know why you’re not going to
support me. You’re not going to support me because I don’t want your money.
Isn’t it crazy?”
According to AP, he added: “You want to control your own politician.”
