President Donald Trump faced criticism on Wednesday from U.S. Muslim and Jewish advocacy groups for referring to Senator Chuck Schumer as a Palestinian, a term they deemed as a slur. During a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump expressed frustration with congressional Democrats not supporting his agenda, stating, “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. He’s a Palestinian.” Schumer, the highest-ranking elected U.S. Jewish official, has no Palestinian heritage.
Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, condemned Trump’s use of the term as a racial slur, calling it offensive and beneath the dignity of his office. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, also criticized Trump’s remarks. This is not the first time Trump has faced backlash for such comments, having previously made controversial statements during the 2020 election campaign.
The rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian bias, and antisemitism has been noted by rights advocates, especially during the Israel-Gaza conflict. Trump’s proposed plan for a U.S. takeover of Gaza and displacement of Palestinians has been strongly opposed and labeled as a form of ethnic cleansing by various groups, including Arab states, Palestinians, and the U.N. Additionally, Trump’s administration is seeking to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student known for his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University in New York.
No immediate comments were received from the White House or Senator Schumer.
