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Fast Forward

Trump Ally Says George Soros Is Not Really Jewish Because He Criticizes Israel

Where to start with Rep. Louie Gohmert?

The Trump-loving congressman went on Fox News to compare how the Chinese government oppresses its citizens to Jewish billionaire George Soros and “the damage he inflicted on Israel.”

In a clip shared to Twitter, the Texas congressman talks to host Stuart Varney about the accuracy of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, “1984,” and its idea of a hovering “Big Brother” government. He said the conversation reminded him of another George: George Soros.

“Because Google is born in a free country, and then they [the Chinese government] go and help oppress it in another country,” Gohmert said, beginning his comparison. “George Soros is supposed to be Jewish but you wouldn’t know it from the damage he inflicted on Israel and the fact that he turned on fellow Jews & helped take the property that they owned.”

“Well,” Varney said, trying to interject.

“It’s the same kind of thing: Google coming from a free country and helping oppress,” Gohmert said. “But China’s been oppressing for a while.”

Varney then directed the conversation away from Soros, the liberal megadonor who is seen as a boogeyman to the far-right. He has long been the face of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, including being accused of funding the recent midterm elections.

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

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