He spoke for over an hour to some 4,000 people who lapped up every word.
"Four more years!," Israeli-American Council attendees chanted as US President Donald Trump spoke about all the ways he has supported Israel during his term.
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Seeming at ease in front of a crowd of Israelis and Jewish-Americans, Trump's alternated between telling anecdotes and patting himself on the back in a speech he delivered to an important voting bloc in a swing state (Florida).
So while his speech was very much reminiscent of a campaign rally, Trump seemed so happy to be there that he didn't seem like he was working at all.
And when a member of the Shalva Band eagerly ran up to the president at the end of the band's performance and wrapped his arms around the 6-foot-3 world leader, he felt like he was one of us. Mishpacha.
But that's not the take that hit the press when Trump walked off stage. A speech that largely addressed why he loves the Jewish state, was described as an anti-Semitic screed because of a few off-the-cuff digressions.
"You're not nice people at all. But you have to vote for me; you have no choice.," Trump said, referring to the attendees successful business careers and real estate ventures as he elaborated on the story behind the relocation of the US Embassy to a more affordable location. "You're not going to vote for Pocahontas, I can tell you that [referring to Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren]. You're not going to vote for the wealth tax ... Even if you don't like me; some of you don't. Some of you I don't like at all, actually."
The line met with applause and laughter in the room, but fell flat among Jewish groups and the mainstream media.
Take a look at what they had to say:
The Director of Government Affairs at J Street, Debra Shushan, for example. Didn't mince words over her disapproval of Trump's remarks:
Miriam Adelson was right when she told the IAC that Trump "has already gone down in the annals of Jewish history."
He's surpassed Nixon in his disgusting anti-Semitic stereotypes & contempt for Jewish Americans.
Vile. 1/ https://t.co/JiuSlWZiZ1
— Debra Shushan🔸דבורה שושן🔸دبرا شوشان (@DrShushan) December 8, 2019
IfNotNow called Trump's comments "outrageous" and blasted the IAC for giving Trump a platform for his "anti-Semitsm."
This is outrageous! White nationalists hear this rhetoric from the president and they see a green light to carry out attacks against the "bad Jews" — i.e., liberal, progressive Jews.
IAC, by giving a platform to Trump's antisemitism, you endanger our whole community. Stop it. https://t.co/BcLcKkHwgA
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) December 8, 2019
Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said there was nothing funny about his words which, he believed, were steeped in anti-Semitic tropes.
Correct. His clear, colloquial meaning was not that we have no choice but to vote for him, but that we *will* all vote for him because all we care about is money. https://t.co/weB1geK9NB
— Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) December 9, 2019
But those in the room called the entire brouhaha – to borrow a Trump phrase – fake news.
Marc Zell, chairman and vice president of Republicans Overseas Israel, noted the standing ovation Trump received at the end of his speech.
More than 4200 Israeli Americans gave a boisterous standing ovation to President Trump at the IAC conference in Florida. This President & his Administration have done amazing things for Israel and the United States. Thank you @realDonaldTrump!https://t.co/TP6fB2oYjH
— Marc Zell (@GOPIsrael) December 9, 2019
And Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who was also in attendance, slammed the Times of Israel for focusing on wealth and taxes digression and ignoring the rest of his words.
Trump tells Jewish group they'll vote for him to protect their wealth - I was at the speech and live-streamed it. To sum this up as the headline is highly misleading. It was one of the most pro-Israel speeches ever delivered by an American President. https://t.co/Mk66W2aPpT
— Rabbi Shmuley (@RabbiShmuley) December 8, 2019
