Trump touts Jewish friends, family members after Israeli reporter asks about anti-Semitic crime
President Trump responded to a question from an Israeli reporter over the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States by citing his Jewish friends and family members — and his election margin.
“We are going to have peace in this country,” said the president in a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We are going to stop crime in this country. We are going to do everything within our power to stop long simmering racism and every other thing that’s going on because a lot of bad things have taken place over a long period of time.”
Trump then turned to highlight his daughter Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism when she married Jared Kushner, now a White House adviser.
“I think one of the reasons I won the election is we have a very, very divided nation — very divided. Hopefully I’ll be able to do something about that. As far as Jewish people — so many friends, a daughter who happens to be here right now, a son-in-law, three beautiful grandchildren. I think that you’re going to see a lot different United States of America over the next three, four or eight years.”
“I think a lot of good things are happening. You’re going to see a lot of love. You’re going to see a lot of love.”
Trump began his answer by recounting his election victory, asking Netanyahu if he was aware of many prognostications leading up to Nov. 8.
“Well I just want to say we’re very honored by the victory that we had, 306 electoral college votes, we were not supposed to crack 220. You know that, right? There was no way to 221, then they said there’s no way to 270.”
Trump did not address the subject of the question, the reported spike in hate crimes following his election.
“Since your election campaign and even after your victory we’ve seen a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States,” said Israeli journalist Moav Vardi in the final question of the event. “I wonder what do you say to those among the Jewish community around the United States, and in Israel, and maybe around the world who believe and feel your administration is playing with xenophobia and maybe racist tones?”
The two American outlets Trump called on during the joint press conference represented the Christian Broadcasting Network and Townhall, continuing the president’s trend of taking questions from conservative outlets over wire services, broadcast networks or major newspapers.
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