President Donald Trump is facing backlash from Muslim and Jewish advocacy organizations after describing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as a “Palestinian,” a term many believe was used with derogatory intent.
The comment was made during a meeting in the Oval Office with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, where Trump voiced frustration over the stance of congressional Democrats on U.S. corporate tax policies.
“Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I’m concerned. He’s become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore,” Trump reportedly stated.
Despite the remarks, Schumer, who is Jewish and not of Palestinian heritage, has not publicly responded.
Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned the statement, calling it “offensive and beneath the dignity of his office.”
Awad, who has Palestinian roots, further criticized Trump’s language, stating it contributes to the “ongoing dehumanization” of Palestinians.
Jewish advocacy groups also reacted strongly to the remarks. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), described Trump’s comments as “offensive and dehumanizing.”
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), highlighted Trump’s repeated use of divisive rhetoric, noting a pattern of targeting various communities.
This incident adds to concerns about the President’s use of ethnic identities as insults. During last year’s campaign, Trump also referred to then-presidential candidate Joe Biden as “Palestinian” during a debate, while suggesting that Jewish voters who did not support him “needed to have their heads examined.”
Schumer, a known advocate for Israel, recently called for leadership changes in Israel, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid rising violence in Gaza.
In a Senate speech, Schumer described Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East, urging for new elections once the ongoing Israel-Hamas war concludes.
