President Trump warned of rising antisemitism on Capitol Hill as he hosted a Hanukkah reception Tuesday evening in the White House’s East Room.
Hundreds of guests were in the East Room for the third night of Hanukkah, including major GOP donor Miriam Adelson, radio host Sid Rosenberg, broadcaster Mark Levin, conservative activist Laura Loomer, and others.
Several lawmakers were in the room as well, including Reps. Mike Lawler, New York Republican; Jared Moskowitz, Florida Democrat; Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey Democrat; and Max Miller, Ohio Republican.
“I will always be a friend and a champion to the Jewish people,” Mr. Trump said. “If you go back 10, 12, 15, years ago, at the most, the strongest lobby in Washington was the Jewish Lobby. It was Israel.
“That’s no longer true. You have to be very careful,” he said. “You have a Congress in particular, which is becoming antisemitic.”
He said there are “a lot of people in Congress that don’t want to help Israel, don’t like Israel.”
He started off his celebration remarks by sending “love and prayers of our entire nation, to the people of Australia,” following the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach over the weekend.
“What a terrible, terrible thing,” he said. “We don’t learn.”
“We’re joined in mourning all of those who were killed, and we’re praying for the swift recovery of the wounded, some are very horrifically wounded,” he said. “All nations must stand together against the evil forces of radical Islamic terrorism, and we’re doing that.”
He also spoke of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, his support for Israel, and helping get the hostages home both dead and alive.
The president spoke of the executive order he signed in January that aimed to combat antisemitism.
“Bad things are happening, and we’re not going to let that happen,” he said. “While I’m president … we’re not going to let it happen, but please, please be vigilant and careful.”
