Wave of antisemitism
Trump: Congress is "Becoming Antisemitic"
Speaking at a Chanuka event at the White House, US President Trump said that with the weakening of the pro-Israel lobby, Congress itself is "becoming antisemitic." The President singled out members of "The Squad" and touted his own record on Israel.
US President Donald Trump warned that antisemitism is growing within Congress during remarks at a White House Hanukkah reception, telling guests that political support for Israel and the Jewish community in Washington has weakened significantly in recent years.
Speaking to attendees at the annual Hanukkah celebration, Trump said that what he described as the once-dominant “Jewish lobby” no longer holds the same influence in Congress, which he claimed is “becoming antisemitic.”
“If you go back 10, 12, 15 years ago, the strongest lobby in Washington was the Jewish lobby. It was Israel,” Trump said. “That’s no longer true.”
Trump initially spoke broadly about Congress, then singled out progressive Democratic lawmakers, naming members of “the Squad,” including Rep. Ilhan Omar, whom he accused of hostility toward Jews and Israel. He warned the audience to be “very careful,” claiming attitudes toward Israel were worsening not only in the House but beginning to surface in the Senate as well.
The president reiterated his support for the Jewish people and Israel, declaring, “I will always be a friend and a champion to the Jewish people,” before listing actions taken during his presidency, including recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Trump opened his remarks by referencing the recent terror attack targeting a Chanuka celebration in Australia, calling on countries to stand together against what he described as radical Islamic terrorism. He also criticized efforts to downplay the October 7 Hamas massacre and urged vigilance in the face of rising antisemitic violence.
The event drew a largely Republican crowd, along with Jewish leaders, donors, and supporters. Conservative commentator Mark Levin referred to Trump as “the first Jewish president,” while GOP megadonor Miriam Adelson addressed the gathering and praised Trump’s pro-Israel record.
Despite earlier corrections from family members of Israeli hostages, Trump again incorrectly stated that all remaining hostages had been recovered from Gaza. At least one hostage’s body remains held there.
While Trump’s speech ranged across multiple topics in his typical freewheeling style, his warning about antisemitism in Congress stood out as the central and most serious theme of the evening.