American-Jewish Leaders Split on Donald Trump
Despite earning praise early last week for quickly denouncing anti-Semitic comments by radio host and former KKK leader David Duke, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is still having a hard time rallying the support of many conservative American Jews.
In the wake of Trump’s resounding victory in the Indiana Primary last Tuesday, the GOP candidate merely received a message of congratulations from Republican Jewish Coalition national chairman David Flaum:
“The Republican Jewish Coalition congratulates Donald Trump on being the presumptive Presidential nominee of the Republican Party.”
Absent from the statement was any kind of praise for the presumptive nominee, any endorsement of him as a candidate, or any level of support whatsoever. Instead, the remainder of the message was directed at Democratic Party front-runner Hillary Clinton.
“Throughout the course of this long campaign among Republicans there has been unity in the belief that Hillary Clinton is the worst possible choice for a commander in chief,” Flaum said. “Secretary Clinton has proven time and again through her record and her policies that her candidacy will compromise our national security, weaken our economy and further strain our relationship with our greatest ally, Israel.”
He also noted that the RJC would be “working hard” to help hold onto the GOP majorities in the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
“It is critical that these majorities be preserved,” he said. “To do this we must remember our core principles: peace through strength, unwavering support for Israel and robust American leadership at home and abroad.”
The lack of RJC’s support wasn’t surprising. The Republican front-runner skipped an event in Las Vegas put on by the group last month. Most of the members quoted at the event were strong supporters of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who has since dropped out of the race.
But another major Jewish voice in American politics said he will support the businessman in his bid for the White House. Sheldon Adelson, a casino developer who has donated millions to Israel and Jewish causes, said he will back Trump now that he has all but locked up the GOP presidential nomination.
“Yes, I’m a Republican, he’s a Republican. He’s our nominee,” Adelson told the New York Times. “Whoever the nominee would turn out to be, any one of the 17—he was one of the 17. He won fair and square.”
Adelson donated nearly $100 million to federal political races in 2012, and spent heavily on former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s failed primary bid. He remains among the Republican Party’s most sought after campaign contributors, but had been vocally neutral about the 2016 GOP field.
Trump, he said, “would be good for Israel.”
