The President Who Forgot History: Trump Blames Biden for Wave of Antisemitism
Published in Maariv
(Israel) on 4 June 2025
by Nachman Shai (link to original)
Trump is blaming Biden for the wave of antisemitism in the United States, but there were similar antisemitic incidents during his first term. The Oct. 7 attack. ignited a new wave of antisemitism and Israel must now stand beside the Jews of the United States.
So many experts on antisemitism have appeared recently that it is a shame all this energy has not been invested in blocking the foul antisemitic wave and perhaps even preventing it. This includes, of course, President Donald Trump, who sees considers that American history began and ended with the Joe Biden era. Within minutes after the attack on the pro-Israel march in Boulder, Colorado, Trump’s spokespeople had already claimed “President Biden is responsible.” He reinforced those sentiments the next day in one of his frequent tweets calling out Biden, Biden, Biden. Trump does not have bad memory, but in this case he apparently prefers to forget.
In his first term, a number of significant antisemitic incidents occurred. For example, the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the antisemitic march in Charlottesville, in which Trump drew a comparison between various groups of demonstrators in saying there were also “very good people” among the right-wing demonstrators. It should be noted that the demonstrations were led by neo-Nazi activists and Ku Klux Klan veterans, an infamous racist organization.
Trump’s first year was marked by a sharp rise in antisemitic acts in the United States. During the same period, Trump was accustomed to accusing his predecessor, President Barack Obama, for every irregular incident. This pattern is back; Biden is responsible for everything. It is worthwhile and convenient that not only Biden’s immigration policy, which was open and liberal, but each of his actions or oversights, is now on the agenda.
Trump’s first term was characterized by removing the internal brakes, and thus, extremist organizations such as neo-Nazis, “Alt-Right,” and others became legitimate and went from darkness to light. Still, I say that Trump is not an antisemite, but the sense of release that right-wing organizations felt led to a jump in antisemitism a few years ago and now history is repeating itself in a big way.
The Biden administration, however, recognized the rise of antisemitic acts in the United States and initiated a comprehensive program to combat this evil. The program was placed in the hands of a special envoy for antisemitism issues, Prof. Deborah Lipstadt, and included a large array of educational activities, and preventing and punishing these acts throughout the country. She apparently failed.
The Oct. 7 attack and subsequent war broke out between the terms of the two presidents. This conflict ignited the wave of antisemitism hitting the United States. It awakened the doctrine, whether on the right or the left in the United States, with both wings expressing strong criticism of Israel. In Israel, most people do not see these television reports, and I am not sure that the reports would have convinced our general public, but, in contrast, throughout the world, including in the United States, the antisemitism monster had awakened. According to a report by the Anti-Defamation League, the oldest Jewish organization documenting antisemitism in the United States, a 400% increase in the number of antisemitic incidents has occurred since the beginning of the fighting in Gaza. Social media networks, it should be noted, were a field of unhinged activities. The major technology firms failed to filter these messages. There is a question of whether they, in fact, tried, but the result is a wave of antisemitism that has swept across the entire world, with an emphasis on America. There, the environment, including free speech and the availability of weapons, has created ideal conditions for antisemitic activities.
In contrast to his first term, this time, Jews in the United States are more cautious with their reactions. They do not want to attack the president directly, perhaps because this could cause the opposite effect, but they do criticize the government in general terms and demand its full mobilization to root out the antisemitic virus. Trump, for his part, has chosen a place to launch his effort, deciding to focus on American university campuses where major demonstrations occurred last summer and where they discovered an organizational infrastructure and capabilities of anti-Israel organizations.
Trump chose two universities and subdued Columbia relatively easily as the university responded to his demands. However, this did not prevent students from demonstrating again, something that proves the depth of organized criticism of Israel. Harvard University, in contrast, acknowledged the existence of antisemitism in areas of the university, but rejected the sanctions imposed by the president, prompting a legal fight. The Jewish community is divided on this policy. According to a survey conducted by GBAO Strategies, almost half of the Jews in the United States believe that President Trump himself is antisemitic and a small minority of them even think that the steps taken by the president are not reducing hatred of Jews. This position is supported by almost 550 rabbis and cantors, who recently signed a letter stating, “The president makes use of Jews as justification for his actions” and that he “divides Americans, undermines democracy, and harms other vulnerable communities.”*
From Israel’s perspective, we are in a moment of trial. The Oct. 7 war strengthened the relationship and connection between Judaism in the United States and the Jewish community in the United States, which stands with Israel unconditionally. Also, those circles that have criticized the government have now joined themselves to Israel by demonstrating historic sympathy and support.
Now it is our time to stand beside them. In the end, our war has become theirs. The more it deepens, the more their lives in the United States become at risk. The government of Israel and the prime minister must work with diligence and tenacity to oppose Trump and his administration. Our obligation to the Jews of the world is greater than at any previous time.
Of course, this will cause discomfort and unpleasantness, given that Israel-U.S. relations are more complicated than ever and our dependence on the United States is unprecedented, but Israel has no other way to go. This is the country of the Jewish people and it bears responsibility for the fate of the Jewish people, as stated in paragraph 6 of the national law: “The state will endeavor to ensure the safety of the Jewish people and its citizens suffering distress and captivity because they are Jewish or because of their citizenship.”
You wanted a national law, you got it. Now, to work.
*Editor’s Note: This quote, accurately translated, could not be independently verified.
So many experts on antisemitism have appeared recently that it is a shame all this energy has not been invested in blocking the foul antisemitic wave and perhaps even preventing it. This includes, of course, President Donald Trump, who sees considers that American history began and ended with the Joe Biden era. Within minutes after the attack on the pro-Israel march in Boulder, Colorado, Trump’s spokespeople had already claimed “President Biden is responsible.” He reinforced those sentiments the next day in one of his frequent tweets calling out Biden, Biden, Biden. Trump does not have bad memory, but in this case he apparently prefers to forget.
In his first term, a number of significant antisemitic incidents occurred. For example, the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the antisemitic march in Charlottesville, in which Trump drew a comparison between various groups of demonstrators in saying there were also “very good people” among the right-wing demonstrators. It should be noted that the demonstrations were led by neo-Nazi activists and Ku Klux Klan veterans, an infamous racist organization.
Trump’s first year was marked by a sharp rise in antisemitic acts in the United States. During the same period, Trump was accustomed to accusing his predecessor, President Barack Obama, for every irregular incident. This pattern is back; Biden is responsible for everything. It is worthwhile and convenient that not only Biden’s immigration policy, which was open and liberal, but each of his actions or oversights, is now on the agenda.
Trump’s first term was characterized by removing the internal brakes, and thus, extremist organizations such as neo-Nazis, “Alt-Right,” and others became legitimate and went from darkness to light. Still, I say that Trump is not an antisemite, but the sense of release that right-wing organizations felt led to a jump in antisemitism a few years ago and now history is repeating itself in a big way.
The Biden administration, however, recognized the rise of antisemitic acts in the United States and initiated a comprehensive program to combat this evil. The program was placed in the hands of a special envoy for antisemitism issues, Prof. Deborah Lipstadt, and included a large array of educational activities, and preventing and punishing these acts throughout the country. She apparently failed.
The Oct. 7 attack and subsequent war broke out between the terms of the two presidents. This conflict ignited the wave of antisemitism hitting the United States. It awakened the doctrine, whether on the right or the left in the United States, with both wings expressing strong criticism of Israel. In Israel, most people do not see these television reports, and I am not sure that the reports would have convinced our general public, but, in contrast, throughout the world, including in the United States, the antisemitism monster had awakened. According to a report by the Anti-Defamation League, the oldest Jewish organization documenting antisemitism in the United States, a 400% increase in the number of antisemitic incidents has occurred since the beginning of the fighting in Gaza. Social media networks, it should be noted, were a field of unhinged activities. The major technology firms failed to filter these messages. There is a question of whether they, in fact, tried, but the result is a wave of antisemitism that has swept across the entire world, with an emphasis on America. There, the environment, including free speech and the availability of weapons, has created ideal conditions for antisemitic activities.
In contrast to his first term, this time, Jews in the United States are more cautious with their reactions. They do not want to attack the president directly, perhaps because this could cause the opposite effect, but they do criticize the government in general terms and demand its full mobilization to root out the antisemitic virus. Trump, for his part, has chosen a place to launch his effort, deciding to focus on American university campuses where major demonstrations occurred last summer and where they discovered an organizational infrastructure and capabilities of anti-Israel organizations.
Trump chose two universities and subdued Columbia relatively easily as the university responded to his demands. However, this did not prevent students from demonstrating again, something that proves the depth of organized criticism of Israel. Harvard University, in contrast, acknowledged the existence of antisemitism in areas of the university, but rejected the sanctions imposed by the president, prompting a legal fight. The Jewish community is divided on this policy. According to a survey conducted by GBAO Strategies, almost half of the Jews in the United States believe that President Trump himself is antisemitic and a small minority of them even think that the steps taken by the president are not reducing hatred of Jews. This position is supported by almost 550 rabbis and cantors, who recently signed a letter stating, “The president makes use of Jews as justification for his actions” and that he “divides Americans, undermines democracy, and harms other vulnerable communities.”*
From Israel’s perspective, we are in a moment of trial. The Oct. 7 war strengthened the relationship and connection between Judaism in the United States and the Jewish community in the United States, which stands with Israel unconditionally. Also, those circles that have criticized the government have now joined themselves to Israel by demonstrating historic sympathy and support.
Now it is our time to stand beside them. In the end, our war has become theirs. The more it deepens, the more their lives in the United States become at risk. The government of Israel and the prime minister must work with diligence and tenacity to oppose Trump and his administration. Our obligation to the Jews of the world is greater than at any previous time.
Of course, this will cause discomfort and unpleasantness, given that Israel-U.S. relations are more complicated than ever and our dependence on the United States is unprecedented, but Israel has no other way to go. This is the country of the Jewish people and it bears responsibility for the fate of the Jewish people, as stated in paragraph 6 of the national law: “The state will endeavor to ensure the safety of the Jewish people and its citizens suffering distress and captivity because they are Jewish or because of their citizenship.”
You wanted a national law, you got it. Now, to work.
*Editor’s Note: This quote, accurately translated, could not be independently verified.
Previous article![]( "Donald Trump — Elon Musk’s Worst Investment Yet")
Next article![]( "President Trump, the G7 and Canada’s New ‘Realistic’ Foreign Policy")
