Far-right Newsmax television host Grant Stinchfield has come under fire after making an anti-Semitic claim that the “homeland” of Jewish Americans is Israel, not America.
In a segment where President Joe Biden was attacked for failing to control the violent attacks in the Middle East, Stinchfield showed Rabbi Jacob Shmuel “Shmuley” Boteach, who in New York City urged Biden to “show moral leadership in conflict” .
“He speaks of ‘moral courage’. It’s something the Democrats unfortunately don’t have, ”Stinchfield claimed the same day Republicans ousted Rep. Liz Cheney for saying Donald Trump lost a free and fair election.
“If you are a Jew and a Democrat living in America today, how do you support a government that has turned its back on your homeland?” Stinchfield asked as reported by Media Matters.
Newsmax moderator: “If you are a Jew and a Democrat living in America today, how do you support a government that has turned its back on your homeland?” Pic.twitter.com/yc9RjpHxlU
– Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) May 13, 2021
The claim that American Jews are not Americans or have an overriding allegiance to Israel instead of America is an anti-Semitic trump card that is widely spread on the right – just as President Donald Trump has repeatedly done.
No one expects American Catholics to be loyal to Rome, but conservatives often speak heavily about American Jews and mistakenly believe that their allegiance is to Israel and not to America.
An American responded very clearly (caution: and profane) to Stinchfield:
I’m so sick of this anti-Semitic double bond OS. pic.twitter.com/5M1Ej8IW5F
– Mike Brand (@miketheidealist) May 13, 2021
Here is how some others react, including many Jewish Americans:
Jew here. Care deeply for Israel. My wife was born there. Israel is not my homeland. 100% American.
– Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 13, 2021
Trying to Americanize Israeli politics seems really stupid
– Jane Coaston (@janecoaston) May 13, 2021
Anti-Semitic trolling.
– Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) May 13, 2021
This also seems like a fun way of implying that being Jewish means you must have a certain opinion about what is going on in a country you don’t live in, and I don’t think that is the case
– Jane Coaston (@janecoaston) May 13, 2021
Hmm, let’s see. Bc are you american? And “there are good people on both sides.” And Seb Gorka was in an organization founded by real Nazis. And Soro’s conspiracies resulted in the mass murder of Trumper @ Tree of Life Synagogue. And Scalise was “David Duke with no baggage”. You know, just to start with
– Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) May 13, 2021
Assuming American Jews have allegiance to Israel, is anti-Semitic https://t.co/B4KjNYQ7Mk
– Will swart (@ Willswart4) May 13, 2021
I am jew Israel is very important to me, although I have never visited it. It is not my “home country”. I am American through and through. Proud and loud. Born here, raised here.
Why do we Jews have to “prove” again and again our loyalty to some on the far right and left? It is exhausting. pic.twitter.com/G4KfcotK1q
– Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) May 13, 2021
It is usually the anti-Semitic people who think American Jews should support Israel without question.
Newsmax’s Grant Stinchfield should apologize to any American Jew for saying our “homeland” is not the US and that he politicized us in support of Biden. Disgusting.
– Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) May 13, 2021
In Russia, Russians did not consider Russian Jews to be Russian. The result – pogroms.
In Germany, the Germans did not consider the German Jews to be German. The result – the Holocaust.
Trump and his Newsmax friends see American Jews not as Americans, but as Israelis.
It’s anti-Semitism and it’s dangerous. https://t.co/OEJX3yKvGi
– Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) May 13, 2021
The same goes for. There is a distant branch of my paternal GM’s family in Israel that I have never spoken to, met or corresponded with. No visits or plans to visit. Have opinions. This is my whole connection.
– ?? MG? #LetsGetToWork #BidenAgenda (@knitvspurl) May 13, 2021
My homeland is America, not Israel. WTF is wrong with these people?
– Eric Slater (@ericsslater) May 13, 2021
I am Jewish. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, lived in Illinois and Missouri, and now live in New York. I’ve never been to Israel. Israel is not my homeland.
– Alex Basson ??? (@boycats) May 13, 2021
This Jew’s passport is from the United States, the country I was born in and where I live.
– Jewish space laser K2FI (@filkerdave), May 13, 2021
Double loyalty, but make it really anti-Semitic and kind of a little patriotic too
– Jared (@JPattPattycake) May 13, 2021
Israel is not your homeland if you don’t come from there. This is directed against Jewish people and Palestinians
– KnowYourObama (@KnowYourObama) May 13, 2021
Jewish Democrats are American and their home country is the United States.
– Ares (@ AresRound2) May 13, 2021
If I remember correctly, Isreal was founded in 1948 and my family came to America from Russia and Germany sometime between 1850 and 1890. This Jewish democrat has no connection with Isreal.
– Mark Wein (@mwgl), May 13, 2021
https://t.co/BrMl29G3Pj
– NYC118 (@ nyc118) May 13, 2021
I’m american. And Newsmax is definitely not an American.
– Dissent (@ DISSENT_4_4) May 13, 2021
This article has been updated to include additional relevant tweets.
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