Trump slams reporter for ‘repulsive’ question
President is asked about recent rise in anti-Semitism
At Thursday’s news conference, President Trump bristled at a question about how the government plans to respond to an increase in anti-Semitic incidents.
The reporter, identified by Israeli newspaper Haaretz as Jake Turx with the Jewish Orthodox
Ami Magazine, said, “I haven’t seen anybody in my community accuse either yourself or anyone on your staff of being anti-Semitic. We have an understanding that you have Jewish grandchildren — you are their zayde. However, what we are concerned about and what we haven’t been hearing addressed is how the government is planning to take care of it. There are reports that 48 bomb threats have been made against Jewish centers across the country in the last couple of weeks. There are people committing anti- Semitic acts or threatening to...”
Trump called the question “repulsive” and “insulting.”
He expressed frustration that the reporter “said he was going to ask a very simple, easy question, and it’s not. It’s not a simple question, not a fair question.”
The president told the reporter to sit down.
“So here’s the story folks. No. 1, I am the least anti-Semitic person that you’ve ever seen in your entire life,” Trump continued. “No. 2, racism. The least racist person.”
As evidence, Trump pointed to his performance among minorities during the election.
“We did relatively well,” he said, “relative to other people running as a Republican.”
Trump told the reporter to be quiet when he tried to ask a follow-up question.
The president repeated his accusation that the reporter “lied” when he said he was going to ask a simple question.
“Welcome to the world of the media,” he said.
“But let me just tell you something,” Trump continued, “that I hate the charge. I find it repulsive.”
The president never answered how the government planned to address a rise in anti-Semitism.
Trump initially deflected a question about anti-Semitism at a news conference the previous day. Instead, he talked about the size of his Electoral College victory.
Trump was asked what he would say to people among the Jewish community who might fear xenophobia under his administration.
“Well, I just want to say that we are, you know, very honored by the victory that we had: 306 Electoral College votes,” he responded. “We were not supposed to crack 220.”
Trump did say, “We are going to do everything within our power to stop long-simmering racism.”
Trump referenced his son-inlaw Jared Kushner’s Jewish heritage and promised, “You’re going to see a very different United States of America over the next three, four or eight years. I think a lot of good things are happening, and you’re going to see a lot of love. You’re going to see a lot of love. OK?”