As Americans prepared to head to the polls, I heard from lots of Jews in the UK and elsewhere that a Donald Trump victory will be ‘good for Israel’. By this, they generally mean that Trump will be less critical of the Israeli government and the military action it is taking in response to 7 October than both his successor (and potential predecessor) Joe Biden, and opponent Kamala Harris.
That may well be true. However, Israel has already been able to strike Iran directly, something it surely could not do without at least implicit American support. Indeed, there are reports that American fighter jets were on standby should anything go wrong in the most recent mission. Unlike the current Labour government here, the Biden/Harris White House has not stopped selling certain weaponry to Israel as it takes on Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and, ultimately, Iran.
What is to stop Trump being suckered in by Iran’s hardman antics too?
All in all, while there have been some disappointing rhetorical concessions to the anti-Israel left by Harris, there has been plenty of practical support from the administration she is currently part of. (For what it’s worth, would-be first gentleman Doug Emhoff is also Jewish and spoken out strongly against anti-Semitism.)
Trump, meanwhile, has promised to be the ‘best friend’ of American Jews one moment, whilst blaming the community and using anti-Semitic tropes the next. He recently said that ‘Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss if I’m at 40 per cent’ in the polls. In other words, if he doesn’t win it will be because of the Jews. Riling up his far-right base against the Jewish community in the wake of a defeat is an interesting way to show friendship.
There are plenty of examples of him using anti-Semitic tropes over the years too. This is despite the fact his daughter Ivanka is married a relatively religious Jew, Jared Kushner, and converted to Judaism herself.
Back in 2015, Trump told the Republican Jewish Coalition that ‘you want to control your politicians’. That year, he also told the same organisation that ‘I don’t want your money, therefore you’re probably not going to support me, because stupidly you want to give money’. He simply cannot resist fuelling the idea that Jews want to control politicians with money.
As if this wasn’t troubling enough, the former President commented in a December 2021 interview: ‘It used to be that Israel had absolute power over Congress, and today I think it’s the exact opposite.’ Classy.
For Jews to pretend that someone who has used such language will be a true defender of the only Jewish nation in the world seems optimistic, to say the least.
On Israel itself, there is no doubt that Trump is close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both men like to make great play of their supposed friendship and indulge each other’s strongman antics. In his last administration, Trump also moved the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a move that was popular with many Jews and Israelis.
However, it is unclear how long the current Israeli PM will stay in office. Many Israelis are furious at his failure to bring home all the hostages captured by Hamas more than a year ago. Prior to those atrocities, there were weekly protests against the government, sentiment that is rising again.
Netanyahu could even end up in prison as corruption allegations continue to swirl around him. If more moderate figures like Yair Lapid come into office, they will obviously have to maintain a relationship with the US but are unlikely to tickle Trump’s belly as much as Netanyahu does. And we know Trump only likes people who suck up to him.
It is also that predilection for strongmen that could ultimately see Trump abandon Israel and make alliances with its enemies. We see this in the way Trump has flirted with Vladimir Putin, so what about Iran, a regime intent on the destruction of Israel? What is to stop Trump being suckered in by their hardman antics too?
Ultimately, it is hard to believe that a figure as obviously narcissistic as Donald Trump actually cares about anything other than himself. He might be interested in Israel for one minute, then be thoroughly bored by it the next, presumably when he doesn’t get to attend a grand ceremony or press conference. Furthermore, this is hardly a man renowned for his attention to detail or ability to use careful language, things I think we all can agree are required when trying to navigate the situation in the Middle East.
It has been a harrowing 13 months for Jews around the world, as we watch Israel being attacked and anti-Semitism flourish. There is an increasing sense of exhaustion in the community and a tendency to hold on to any glimmer of hope that things might get better. Donald Trump is not the answer though.
Watch more on Spectator TV:
Comments