‘I Am #DisloyalToTrump’: Jews Clap Back To The President On Twitter
Donald Trump Image by Getty Images
After President Trump invoked an anti-Semitic trope by calling Jews who vote for Democrats “disloyal,” Jews began storming Twitter with the hashtag #DisloyalToTrump.
“Any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat — I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Trump’s comments sparked fierce backlash from liberal Jewish groups and political figures like Bernie Sanders.
Jews throughout the country took to Twitter to share their own opposition to the president’s words.
Several users posted images of family members who perished in the Holocaust:
Today Trump said that Jewish people who vote for Democrats are disloyal. Disloyal to whom? I’m Jewish. My aunts were killed in the Holocaust. In their memory, I am proudly disloyal to Trump and the racist hatred he incites and inspires. #DisloyalToTrump https://t.co/4Wem9Gqgwp
— Nancy Levine ? (@nancylevine) August 20, 2019
I’m Jewish. I lost at least 32 relatives in the Holocaust, including these 2 little girls, Mina & Rivka, who were killed by collaborators. You, Trump, refused to condemn men who chanted, “Jews will not replace us!” You are NOT on our side.#DisloyalToTrumphttps://t.co/Ahka2ExPjF pic.twitter.com/EAkgb6C13f
— Charlotte Issyvoo (@CIssyvoo) August 20, 2019
Many invoked the rise in white supremacy inspired by Trump:
I’m an American Jew and child of Holocaust survivors, PROUDLY #DisloyalToTrump because anti-Semitic attacks went up 37% since he took office, he inspired the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, and called these Nazis who chanted “Jews will not replace us” very fine people. pic.twitter.com/K2W8zlDY8m
— PassMeAPickle (@CeeLeeMusic) August 21, 2019
As an American Jew, I am #DisloyalToTrump because his rhetoric inspired not one but two white supremacists to spraypaint my child’s Jewish preschool with Swastikas #ThisIsNotNormal
— DoggyPolitician (@BeagleForPres) August 21, 2019
As a Jew I know the guy who gases and jails kids is never my candidate #DisloyalToTrump
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) August 21, 2019
Others expressed the patriotism of their Jewish relatives:
My Jewish grandfather was in the US Navy and served every day with more loyalty than Donald Trump has ever shown to anyone or anything but himself.
— disloyal jewess (@mrotzie) August 20, 2019
This. It’s memory of my grandfather, a Holocaust survivor and WWII veteran (yes, he served, unlike Cadet Bone Spurs), as well as his parents, who died at Auschwitz, that I am #disloyaltotrump. Jews know how this ends, and we won’t let it happen again. #NeverAgainIsNow https://t.co/Ui21pXYTa4
— Hannah Seligman (@HannahSeligman) August 21, 2019
Public figures and celebrities weighed in:
I’m Jewish. I’m an American & served our country in the CIA. I love musical theater, “as seen on TV” products and carbs. Oh and I’m super duper one gazillion percent #DisloyalToTrump!
— Emily Brandwin (@CIAspygirl) August 21, 2019
This may come as a surprise to absolutely no one, but this proud Jew is 100%, unequivocally #DisloyalToTrump
— andy lassner (@andylassner) August 21, 2019
Several drew parallels between Trump and Adolf Hitler:
“The Jews are not loyal to the state.” — Adolf Hitler
“Any Jew that votes Democrat is disloyal.” — Donald Trump
— Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) August 21, 2019
“The Jews are not loyal to the state”, said Adolf Hitler.
Trump told reporters that Jewish people in America who vote for members of the Democratic Party show “either a total lack of knowledge or a great disloyalty.” https://t.co/PT6H9LXr1u via @HuffPostPol— Dr. Robert Fortuna (@psychdr100) August 20, 2019
The controversy is unlikely to die down: On Wednesday Trump tweeted someone praising him as the “King of Israel,” reaction to which also went viral.
Alexandra Wells is a news intern at the Forward. Contact her at wells@forward.com
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