Second gentleman of the United States, Doug Emhoff has condemned former US President Donald Trump‘s recent comments as “vile antisemitic things,” claiming that they put a target on the backs of Jewish Americans. Emhoff expressed his concerns during an interview with MSNBC host Jen Psaki, scheduled to air on Sunday.
Emhoff was particularly disturbed by Trump’s remarks at a Jewish event in Washington, where the Republican nominee cautioned Jewish voters against supporting vice president Kamala Harris, Emhoff’s wife, in the upcoming election.Trump claimed that if he were to lose in November, Jewish Americans would share some responsibility for that outcome, as per Fox News.
“What really bothered me a week or so ago was when Trump got up at an event, an event purporting to fight antisemitism, and he said vile antisemitic things,” Emhoff told Psaki.“Tropes that are just terrible. We have to speak out every single time when something like that happens”, he added.
Trump’s comments at the Israeli-American Council National Summit included a warning that Israel would “cease to exist” if Harris were to win. He declared, “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.”
Psaki pressed Emhoff on whether he believed Trump was putting a target on Jewish Americans, to which he responded affirmatively. “He is. I mean, take him at his word. This is a disgusting trope. The so-called dual loyalties. It is an outrage,” he said, urging Americans to combat “antisemitism and hate.”
When asked if he considered Trump‘s statements antisemitic, Emhoff replied, “Of course it is, and I said that publicly. Definitely.”
In response, Trump’s campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Emhoff’s remarks were inflammatory and could lead to increased violence against Jewish individuals, asserting that Trump had done more for Jewish Americans and Israel than Harris.