White House condemns Trump’s criticism of American Jews as anti-Semitic Ukraine reports progress in fighting Iranian drones – the nighttime update with no photos

“Donald Trump’s statements, as you all know, were anti-Semitic and offensive to both Jews and our Israeli allies,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said at a news conference Monday.

Trump has been speaking to extremists and anti-Semitic figures for years. “We need to eradicate anti-Semitism wherever it rears its ugly head,” she said.

Trump claimed on Sunday on the online platform Truth Social, which he co-founded, that no president has done more for Israel than he has. Somewhat surprisingly, “our great evangelicals value this much more than people of the Jewish faith, especially those who live in the United States.” Jews in the United States should join hands and appreciate what they have in Israel “before it’s too late”.

Trump’s statements were criticized Monday by, among others, the Jewish organization Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Her boss Jonathan Greenblatt pointed out that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was Jewish and that his daughter Ivanka had converted to Judaism. It is “amazing” that Trump “continues to conjure up perpetual anti-Semitic clichés” despite having Jewish children and grandchildren. He insinuates that Jews are not loyal, he always suggested that they were greedy or had too much power. This is a “clear pattern for someone who has welcomed anti-Semites and extremists into public debate.” (sda/dpa)