Former President Donald Trump certainly knows how to make a splash, and his recent appearance at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership meeting in Las Vegas was no exception. Trump boldly claimed he could win up to half of the Jewish vote in the 2024 election. While this might seem like a stretch, with Trump, anything’s possible.
Trump didn’t pull any punches when questioning why Jewish Americans would vote for the Democrats, a party he argues has shown little love for Israel and Jewish interests. He asked, point-blank, why Jewish Americans would support a party that, in his view, doesn’t have their back.
His speech brought up the Hamas attacks on Israel last October, which led to a prolonged conflict in Gaza. He didn’t forget to mention the current administration’s role in negotiating (or not) with Hamas about hostages. Trump also pointed out the rocky relationship between the Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Remember when Biden urged House Democrats to oppose sanctions against the International Criminal Court for targeting Israeli leaders? Yeah, that happened.
Harris Campaign’s Response
The Harris campaign quickly jumped to defend her ‘consistent’ support for Israel. But let’s face it, the Biden-Harris camp has had its fair share of contradictions. Take, for example, their decision to stop sending precision munitions to Israel if the IDF moved into Gaza—a move that some say put more civilian lives at risk. Talk about consistency!
Growing Jewish Support for Republicans
Ari Fleischer, a board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition, highlighted the increasing Jewish support for Republican candidates. Let’s look at the numbers:
| Year | Candidate | Jewish Vote Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | George H.W. Bush | 11% |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | 25% |
| 2020 | Donald Trump | 30% |
Fleischer suggested this support might creep closer to 50% in key states due to recent global and domestic events.
Republican Jewish Coalition’s Efforts
Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, outlined their game plan to get out the Jewish vote. They’re pulling out all the stops with digital and TV ads, direct mail, phone calls, door-knocking campaigns, and a data operation that would make tech giants jealous. This sounds like a well-oiled machine ready to hit the ground running in states like Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.
Trump’s Introduction
And who introduced Trump at the event? None other than Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson. She sang his praises, calling him a steadfast ally of the Jewish community and eagerly awaiting his return to the White House.
Trump’s Achievements
While Trump’s style might not be everyone’s cup of tea, his achievements are hard to ignore. Let’s take a quick look:
- ✅ Moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem
- ✅ Recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights
- ✅ Brokered peace deals between Israel and several Arab nations
- ✅ Took a hard stance against Iran
Biden-Harris Administration’s Missteps
In contrast, the current administration’s Middle East policy has been a bit of a mess. From giving Tehran billions right before Hamas attacked Israel to lifting sanctions on Venezuela, and even sprucing up San Francisco to impress Xi Jinping, they seem to be all over the place with no clear direction.
So, Jewish American voters, when you’re deciding which way to vote, think about who stood by Israel when it counted and who dropped the ball.
Your choice in 2024 could shape the future of both America and Israel.
