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Home > The Stain of Anti-Semitism at the White House Isn't Going Away
The Stain of Anti-Semitism at the White House Isn't Going Away
By Stosh Cotler [1], Simon Greer [2] / AlterNet [3]
April 23, 2017
What is it with President Trump and anti-Semitism? He kicked off his
inauguration with a sermon by pastor Robert Jeffress [4], who has declared
that Jews are going to hell [5]. Just one week in, the administration marked
Holocaust Remembrance Day without once mentioning Jews [6]. He is harboring
Sebastian Gorka a frequent associate of Hungarys anti-Semitic far right
on his national security staff. And who could forget Sean Spicer's claim [7]
during Passover no less that Hitler never used "gas on his own people"
like Syrian President Assad had?
In response, Trump has pointed to his Jewish daughter and son-in-law to
assure the nation that he's "the least anti-Semitic person you have ever
seen in your entire life," but that hardly put the issue to rest.
Let's put aside the president's trademark bluster and take him at his word
he loves his daughter, and he has a handful of individual Jews in his life
that he cares about. But the issue isnt what Trump believes in his heart of
hearts. What really counts are his actions and the company he keeps
including once fringe figures like Steve Bannon [8] and Sebastian Gorka [9].
In that sense, tragically, he has been a godsend to anti-Semitic movements
and ideologies once relegated to the margins of society.
All the while, alt-right trolls, white nationalist activists and conspiracy
theorists have cheered on President Trump from the virtual sidelines.
They're cheering because this administration has carried the stain of
anti-Semitism from the campaign into the White House and federal government.
Sadly, the longstanding taboo in the GOP against overt anti-Semitism has
begun to fall, and ties to anti-Semitic figures and thought once
considered to be automatically disqualifying by the Republican mainstream
are no longer an impediment to serving in the executive branch.
But across the GOP and among too many establishment Jewish organizations, no
one wants to name the depth and breadth of this pattern. Top administration
officials like Jeff Sessions [10], Sebastian Gorka [9], Steve Bannon [8],
Michael Anton [11], Rick Perry [12] and, until recently, Mike Flynn [13],
have deep ties to fringe elements of the extreme Christian Right, the white
nationalist alt-right, the European far right and the anti-immigration
movement. (Don't miss the detailed chart at the bottom of this article
detailing the ties of the Trump Administration to anti-Semites)These ties
have played a key role in normalizing anti-Semitic bigotry and advancing
political alliances with those who promote or are sympathetic to
anti-Semitism. This is dangerous for the Jewish community but it is also
perilous for immigrant communities, communities of color, and all religious
minorities whose safety is jeopardized by white nationalism.
Look no further than Attorney General Jeff Sessions [10], a close ally of
the president and the first senator to endorse him. Sessions has
longstanding and deep connections [14] to groups like the Federation for
American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which tout anti-Semitic figures and
leaders. FAIR was founded by John Tanton [15], who still sits on the group's
national advisory board. Tanton practically worshipped the architect of the
Immigration Act of 1924, John B. Trevor Sr., a rabid anti-Semite whose
pro-Nazi group was later indicted for sedition. He also recommended the work
of a radical anti-Semite Kevin MacDonald to a major donor and suggested
that FAIRs board discuss MacDonalds anti-Semitic theories regarding Jews
and immigration.
Sessions has also worked closely with two other anti-immigrant groups
affiliated with Tanton, NumbersUSA and the Center for Immigration Studies
(CIS). The president of NumbersUSA has appeared [16] on the radio show of
notorious anti-Semite Jeff Rense, who hosts neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers
and promotes conspiracy theories about "Jewish control of the world."
Meanwhile CIS staff have circulated articles by anti-Semites and Holocaust
deniers [17] and appeared on anti-Semitic programs [18] and in anti-Semitic
publications. One former CIS Analyst, Jon Feere, provided quotes to an
anti-Semitic publication [18], the American Free Press, in 2012. Notably,
Feere was hired [19] by the Trump administration as an advisor to the acting
director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Like Sessions, Mike Flynn [20], who briefly served as Trump's National
Security Advisor, helped mainstream extremists during his time as a campaign
advisor, transition team member and administration official. Flynns
frequent Twitter interactions with white nationalists and anti-Semites have
been thoroughly covered, including the infamous "not anymore, Jews" retweet
[21]. He also called former Breitbart News technology editor Milo
Yiannopoulos one of the most brave people I know. [22] Yiannopoulos, who
has credited Steve Bannon for making him a star, has an anti-Semitic
repertoire that includes encouraging people to post swastikas, referring to
a reporter as a Thick-As-Pig Shit Media Jew [23] and saying that Jews run
everything. [24]
Flynn is no longer part of Trumps National Security Council, but another
figure with disturbing links to anti-Semitism remains in a national security
role: Sebastian Gorka [9], a Deputy Assistant to the President on national
security matters. Gorka recently jumped to the defense of the president over
the Holocaust Remembrance Day controversy, dismissing the criticism of
Jewish groups as "asinine." [25]
To say the least, Gorka may not be the most credible messenger on the issue.
During his time in his parents native Hungary, he was intensely involved
with Hungarys far right [26], which is rife with anti-Semitism. Beginning
in 2006, he wrote a series of articles for Magyar Demokrata, a newspaper
known for publishing anti-Semitic writers. In 2007, he founded the
short-lived UDK Party with two former members of the far-right Jobbik Party,
which has been widely condemned for its virulent anti-Semitism. As a leader
of the UDK, Gorka appeared on Hungarian television to voice support for the
Hungarian Guard [27], a far-right, anti-Semitic paramilitary group. He also
defended right-wing protesters' use of the Arpad flag [28], which harks back
to the World War II-era pro-Nazi movement in the country. The president of
the Federation of the Jewish Communities of Hungary described the flag as a
symbol of murder and mass murder.
Gorkas fondness for symbols of Hungarys far right has been noted in the
media most recently his decision to wear the medal of the Order of Vitéz
to an Inaugural Ball. His father received the medal from the reconstituted
order in exile during the communist era, but it has deeply anti-Semitic
connotations. The order was founded in 1920 by the anti-Semitic Horthy
regime, which played a key role in the Holocaust in Hungary. During World
War II, Jewish real estate was confiscated by the state for distribution to
members of the order [29]. Notably, Gorka signed his doctoral dissertation
in which he discusses the role of "the international Jewish elite" in
founding Israel as "Sebestyén L. v. Gorka," with the v. referencing the
order. When testifying in front of the House Armed Services Committee in
June 2011, his official testimony listed his name as Dr. Sebastian L. v.
Gorka, thus referencing the order under congressional oath. Contemporary
leaders of the order say that Gorka is a formal member and has pledged
lifelong loyalty to the group [30].
Back in the U.S., Gorka became entwined with the far right as national
security editor for Breitbart News, which Bannon once described as "the
platform for the alt-right" [31] a movement that has been described by
former Breitbart staffer Ben Shapiro as "a movement shot through with racism
and anti-Semitism." [32] Like Flynn, Gorka has defended his former colleague
Yiannopoulos and promoted his work [33], including an article that credits
the writings of pro-Nazi thinker Julius Evola for helping originate the
alt-right. For his part, former Breitbart chief Bannon has cited Evola [34]
and has also expressed admiration for Charles Maurras [35], a notorious
French anti-Semitic philosopher who collaborated with the Nazis [36].
Gorka is ideologically in sync with Michael Anton [11], another Deputy
Assistant to the President focused on national security. Writing as "Publius
Decius Mus," Anton ridiculed diversity as a source of weakness and has
defended the World War II-era America First Committee [37] which was
deeply anti-Semitic as an "unfairly maligned" organization.
Though the alt-right is a relatively recent public arrival in conservative
circles, the extreme Christian right has long been a political ally of the
GOP. Now it's a foundational element of Trump's coalition, and its
ideological hostility to Jews has come to the fore.
Consider Secretary of Energy Rick Perry [12], who has extensive ties to the
American Family Association (AFA), an anti-LGBT hate group with a record of
anti-Semitism. AFA's top lobbyist, Sandy Rios [38], has warned that
"powerful Jewish forces" are working to destroy the country and labeled
"atheist Jews" as some of the "worst enemies" of America. Bryan Fischer, who
hosts a flagship program on AFA's radio network and previously served as the
group's policy director and spokesperson, has said that non-Christians don't
have First Amendment rights [39] and that America is a Christian nation and
not a Jewish or Muslim one. [40] He has also blamed LGBT people for the
Holocaust [41]. AFA has even published a guide stating that Jews "do not
worship the same God" [39] as Christians, offering advice on how to convert
them.
AFA was heavily involved in Perrys The Response, [42] a daylong prayer
rally that served as an informal launch to his 2012 presidential campaign.
The event featured a prayer for the conversion of the Jews [43] to
Christianity and was officially endorsed by Mike Bickle [44], who previously
warned that Jews must accept Jesus or face extermination [45]. Bickle and
pastor John Hagee, who participated in "The Response" and whose church Perry
has visited, have both referred to Hitler as a hunter sent by God. These
comments caused John McCain to disavow Hagee [46] in 2008, but Perry has
not.
During his first bid for the presidency, Perry was endorsed [5] in 2011 by
none other than Robert Jeffress, the same pastor who said Jews are going to
hell. A little over five years later, as mentioned above, Jeffress would be
given the honor of delivering a sermon to the incoming president on
Inauguration Day at historic St. John's Episcopal Church across from the
White House. Here we see the not so subtle way that anti-Semitic figures
have been given prominent platforms and mainstreamed by this administration.
When all is said and done, what matters most is not what's in the
president's heart. He has placed individuals with ties to anti-Semitism into
high public office shattering a hard-won taboo against flagrant
anti-Semitism in government. He has invigorated a white nationalist
world-view that demonizes Jews, Muslims, and immigrants. He has,
intentionally or not, energized white nationalists, neo-Nazis and a legion
of alt-right internet trolls. His campaign and early presidency have been
marred by anti-Semitic vandalism and threats. President Trump has downplayed
these acts while ignoring the pattern he has set in motion. These are not
mere coincidences.
The issue of Trump and anti-Semitism keeps coming up because the president
has embraced political figures whose conspiratorial and far-right ideologies
are highly suspicious of if not outright hostile to Jews and Judaism.
Regardless of whether President Trump personally holds such views, many
people around him do. Short of a major shift in rhetoric and some serious
housecleaning at the White House, the stain of anti-Semitism around
President Trump will be here to stay.
The Trump Administration, Anti-Semites, and Their Associates [47]
Headlines Blaring Trump's Anti-Semitism [48]
Stosh Cotler is CEO of Bend the Arc Jewish Action.
Simon Greer is a board member of Bend the Arc Jewish Action.