American Jewish Committee Responds to Trump Statement on Jewish Vote

Former President Trump said yesterday that if he were to lose the Presidential election "the Jewish people would have a lot to do with that if that happens because at 40% that means 60% are voting for the enemy."

Three points:

1. Whoever a majority of the Jewish community votes for, Jews - roughly 2 percent of the U.S. population - cannot and should not be blamed for the outcome of the election. Setting up anyone to say "we lost because of the Jews" is outrageous and dangerous. Thousands of years of history have shown that scapegoating Jews can lead to antisemitic hate and violence.

2. Like all Americans, some Jews will vote for President Trump and some will vote for Vice President Harris. None of us, by supporting the candidate we choose, is "voting for the enemy." Divisive rhetoric like this has no place in politics, especially at a time of rising threats of political violence and two assassination attempts on the former president.

3. Both candidates should work to earn the support of our community based on policy. But let's not make this election and its outcome about the Jews.

AJC is a non-partisan organization, which neither endorses nor opposes candidates for elected public office.