Emhoff blasts Trump for ‘scapegoating Jews’ at antisemitism event

Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff ripped former President Trump on Friday for his remarks at an event raising awareness for combating antisemitism in which the GOP nominee suggested Jewish people would partly shoulder the blame if he loses in November.

“Last night, Donald Trump once again fanned the flames of antisemitism by trafficking in tropes blaming and scapegoating Jews,” Emhoff, who is Jewish, posted on the social platform X. “He even did it at an event purporting to fight antisemitism, no less.”

“This is dangerous and must be condemned,” he continued. “We will not be intimidated and will continue to live openly, proudly, and without fear as Jews.”

Emhoff has made tackling antisemitism a core part of his work as second gentleman.

He has been involved in the White House’s first-ever national strategy to combat antisemitism and has stepped up his public-facing role following last October’s attack on Israel that left more than 1,100 Israelis dead, setting off a wider war in the Middle East.

Trump spoke Thursday at a pair of events focused on addressing antisemitism, where he made alarmist claims about the fate of Israel if Vice President Harris wins November’s presidential election and told the crowd Jewish voters who supported Democratic candidates “should have their head examined.”

Trump lashed out at what he said is his 40 percent support among the Jewish American community in the U.S., saying the 60 percent polled who favor Harris are voting for the “enemy.”

“In my opinion, the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss, if I’m at 40 percent,” Trump said during a campaign event called “Fighting Antisemitism” and hosted by Israeli American Republican mega-donor Miriam Adelson at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

After the event, the former president was the keynote speaker at the Israeli American Conference, also a beneficiary of Adelson, where he repeated similar comments. 

“If I don’t win this election — and Jewish people would have a lot to do with that, 60 percent are voting for the enemy — Israel will cease to exist in two years,” Trump said to a favorable and receptive crowd.

“I believe I’m 100 percent right. … If I do win, Israel will be safe and secure, and we’ll stop the toxic poison of antisemitism,” he added.