Egypt Daily News – U.S. President Donald Trump faced widespread condemnation after using the term “Palestinian” as an insult against Senator Chuck Schumer, a prominent Democratic member of the Senate, saying: “He is no longer Jewish; he is Palestinian.”
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, leading human rights organizations in the U.S. criticized Trump’s remarks, considering them a continuation of bias against Palestinians. Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), stated: “President Trump’s use of ‘Palestinian’ as an insult is offensive and sinks to a level unworthy of his position.”
He added: “He should apologize to both the Palestinian and American people. The continued dehumanization of Palestinians has led to horrific hate crimes against Palestinian Americans, U.S.-supported genocide in Gaza, and decades of denying Palestinian rights by successive American administrations.”
Trump’s controversial remarks were made while speaking to journalists in the Oval Office, where he was seated alongside Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. During his discussion on Democrats in Congress, the war in Ukraine, the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and a potential U.S. government shutdown, he attacked Schumer, saying: “To me, Schumer has become Palestinian… He was Jewish, but he is no longer—he is Palestinian.”
This is not the first time Trump has referred to Schumer in this manner. He previously labeled him a “Palestinian” and a “proud member of Hamas.” He has also frequently questioned why Jewish Americans vote for Democrats, despite growing concerns about antisemitism among some of his advisors and supporters.
There was no immediate response from Schumer regarding Trump’s remarks. However, Haley Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), stated: “Donald Trump has no right to define who is Jewish. Senator Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States, and ‘Palestinian’ should not be used as an insult.”
She added: “These comments are disgusting but revealing of his true nature. It’s time to call things by their name, Donald Trump is antisemitic, Islamophobic, and racist. That’s why the vast majority of Jewish voters have never and will never support him.”
Amy Spitalnick, Executive Director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, also commented: “Once again, this administration’s goal is not to combat antisemitism or protect Israel, but to weaponize antisemitism to attack political opponents, push an extreme agenda, and undermine democracy—all of which make Jews less safe.”
During the Oval Office meeting, a journalist asked the Irish Prime Minister—whose country is one of three European nations recognizing the State of Palestine (along with Norway and Spain)—whether he would convey his position on Gaza to Trump.
Martin responded: “I don’t need to inform the president; he is well aware of the situation. We share the same ongoing focus on achieving peace.”
