Here is a very simple question: if President Donald Trump had treated racism in the same way he treated antisemitism, would the United States have made real progress in eradicating this social ill—or at least delivered a serious blow against it?
This contrast is striking. While Trump signed executive orders pledging to combat antisemitism on college campuses, his administration presides over arbitrary ICE crackdowns on visible minorities and emboldened white supremacists. These contradictions raise serious questions about the sincerity and scope of his efforts.
One reason Trump’s stance on antisemitism rings hollow is that he himself has been repeatedly accused of antisemitic rhetoric. These accusations are not typically about open expressions of hatred, but about his recurring use of stereotypes: framing Jews as “disloyal,” obsessed with money, or more devoted to Israel than America.
In May 2025, Trump used the word “Shylock” in a speech—a slur rooted in Shakespeare’s caricature of a Jewish moneylender. Although he later claimed ignorance of its antisemitic meaning, groups such as the Anti-Defamation League warned that such language reinforces centuries-old prejudices.
Trump has also frequently suggested that Jewish Americans who vote for Democrats are “disloyal” or “ungrateful,” invoking the age-old dual-loyalty trope that questions Jews’ commitment to their country. In October 2024, he went even further, declaring that “Christians love Israel more than Jews,” a remark widely criticized by Jewish leaders as divisive and condescending.
But let’s be honest: Trump’s antisemitism is disingenuous and a travesty. If he’d invest so much time in cracking down on all kinds of racism, the US would take the first step towards becoming a more racially just country.
Trump and antisemitism pledges are nothing more than the warravaged landscape of Gaza.