U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) (3rd L) listens during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol January 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Trump Condemned for Sharing Video Calling Ilhan Omar 'Dangerous Anti-Semite,' As Jewish Allies Come to Her Defense
"It's rather uncontroversial to suggest that Stephen Miller has white nationalist politics. But when Ilhan Omar says it, it's somehow anti-Semitic?"
Days after reports surfaced that Rep. Ilhan Omar had been receiving Islamophobic death threats, President Donald Trump provoked outrage when he shared on social media a video in which Omar was compared to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
On his official Twitter account, Trump retweeted a video of Republican strategist and pro-Israel lobbyist Jeff Ballabon saying Omar's recent statement that Trump adviser Stephen Miller is a white nationalist makes her "the most dangerous anti-Semite we've ever seen."
"Let's be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists. It's not antisemitic to call these people out. They NEED to be called out. Otherwise, they'll keep claiming that they represent Jews because they fight for unconditional support for Israel." --IfNotNowIn the video, Ballabon dodged a question about Miller's anti-immigrant agenda and quickly redirected the interview to Omar's perceived "attack" on Jewish people.
"What's completely unacceptable is for Ilhan Omar to yet again target Jews. In this case it's not just Stephen Miller, what she's doing is by declaring a Jew, someone who's known to be Jewish, a white nationalist, is she's saying, 'Jews, you're not minorities,'" asserted Ballabon.
"She is the most dangerous anti-Semite we've ever seen," he continued. "She's more dangerous than David Duke and Louis Farrakhan combined, because she sits where she sits and no one is stopping her, and she keeps on assaulting Jews."
\u201c\u201cShe (Congresswoman Omar) keeps on assaulting Jews...\u201d \nJeff Ballabon, B2 Strategic, CEO\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1554826198
Omar had tweeted her statement about Miller on Monday, along with a link to a story about Miller pushing for "tougher" immigration policies in the Trump administration.
\u201cStephen Miller is a white nationalist. The fact that he still has influence on policy and political appointments is an outrage. https://t.co/7NyMDgojd7\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1554755653
Many found Omar's statement decidedly uncontroversial, considering Miller's support for family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border and his open association with Steve Bannon, a former Trump White House adviser and Breitbart News executive who has publicly called for "nationalist patriots" to emerge as Europe's "new elite."
\u201cwait, what? "stephen miller is a white nationalist" is controversial? the guy has done everything but openly use slurs!\u201d— b-boy bouiebaisse (@b-boy bouiebaisse) 1554810110
\u201cAstounding bad faith from the GOP. It's rather uncontroversial to suggest that Stephen Miller has white nationalist politics. But when @IlhanMN says it, it's somehow anti-Semitic??\u201d— Ishaan Tharoor (@Ishaan Tharoor) 1554776827
Trump's retweet came three days after a man identified as a supporter of the president was arrested for threatening to kill Omar in a call to her office.
A woman also called a hotel where Omar was staying in Los Angeles last week, threatening to bomb the building, and the freshman congresswoman's name was included on a list of targets created by U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant Christopher Hasson, who the FBI arrested in February.
Ahead of the threats, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro had suggested on air that Omar may adhere to "Sharia law" and the Washington Free Beacon claimed in a report that Omar was holding "secret fundraisers with Islamic groups tied to terror."
On Tuesday, Trump drew condemnation for fanning the hatred that's been directed at Omar.
\u201cBased on Trump\u2019s agreement with Ballabon\u2019s comments, he would also be guilty of assaulting Jews through his repeated criticism and bullying of Schiff, Nadler, Schumer, and others over the years. #TrumpLies #TrumpCrimeFamily #TrumpTaxReturns\u201d— Gene Kelsey (@Gene Kelsey) 1554827076
Jewish critics including at least one rabbi were among those who came to Omar's defense, saying that--despite their shared faith with Miller--they took no exception to the Trump adviser being labeled a white nationalist.
\u201cHi, rabbi here. \n\nStephen Miller is a white nationalist.\u201d— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1554813450
\u201cJust so we\u2019re clear: Ilhan Omar not an Antisemite. Stephen Miller is a white nationalist. And Israel isn\u2019t really a democracy.\u201d— Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df (@Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df) 1554796907
\u201cGood morning to everyone except Stephen Miller, who is a white nationalist\u201d— Leah Greenberg (@Leah Greenberg) 1554814173
The Jewish American progressive group IfNotNow called the "double standard" that Ballabon and other conservatives have applied to Omar "unacceptable and clearly Islamophobic."
"Let's be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists," the group tweeted.
\u201cThe double standard being applied to @IlhanMN is unacceptable and clearly Islamophobic. \n\nLet\u2019s be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists. Here\u2019s a few of the worst:\n\nMort Klein of @ZOA_National \nSheldon Adelson\nMost of the @RJC \n\nhttps://t.co/w7aOpj2LPS\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1554831647
\u201cIt\u2019s not antisemitic to call these people out. They NEED to be called out. Otherwise, they\u2019ll keep claiming that they represent Jews because they fight for unconditional support for Israel.\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1554831647
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Days after reports surfaced that Rep. Ilhan Omar had been receiving Islamophobic death threats, President Donald Trump provoked outrage when he shared on social media a video in which Omar was compared to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
On his official Twitter account, Trump retweeted a video of Republican strategist and pro-Israel lobbyist Jeff Ballabon saying Omar's recent statement that Trump adviser Stephen Miller is a white nationalist makes her "the most dangerous anti-Semite we've ever seen."
"Let's be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists. It's not antisemitic to call these people out. They NEED to be called out. Otherwise, they'll keep claiming that they represent Jews because they fight for unconditional support for Israel." --IfNotNowIn the video, Ballabon dodged a question about Miller's anti-immigrant agenda and quickly redirected the interview to Omar's perceived "attack" on Jewish people.
"What's completely unacceptable is for Ilhan Omar to yet again target Jews. In this case it's not just Stephen Miller, what she's doing is by declaring a Jew, someone who's known to be Jewish, a white nationalist, is she's saying, 'Jews, you're not minorities,'" asserted Ballabon.
"She is the most dangerous anti-Semite we've ever seen," he continued. "She's more dangerous than David Duke and Louis Farrakhan combined, because she sits where she sits and no one is stopping her, and she keeps on assaulting Jews."
\u201c\u201cShe (Congresswoman Omar) keeps on assaulting Jews...\u201d \nJeff Ballabon, B2 Strategic, CEO\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1554826198
Omar had tweeted her statement about Miller on Monday, along with a link to a story about Miller pushing for "tougher" immigration policies in the Trump administration.
\u201cStephen Miller is a white nationalist. The fact that he still has influence on policy and political appointments is an outrage. https://t.co/7NyMDgojd7\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1554755653
Many found Omar's statement decidedly uncontroversial, considering Miller's support for family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border and his open association with Steve Bannon, a former Trump White House adviser and Breitbart News executive who has publicly called for "nationalist patriots" to emerge as Europe's "new elite."
\u201cwait, what? "stephen miller is a white nationalist" is controversial? the guy has done everything but openly use slurs!\u201d— b-boy bouiebaisse (@b-boy bouiebaisse) 1554810110
\u201cAstounding bad faith from the GOP. It's rather uncontroversial to suggest that Stephen Miller has white nationalist politics. But when @IlhanMN says it, it's somehow anti-Semitic??\u201d— Ishaan Tharoor (@Ishaan Tharoor) 1554776827
Trump's retweet came three days after a man identified as a supporter of the president was arrested for threatening to kill Omar in a call to her office.
A woman also called a hotel where Omar was staying in Los Angeles last week, threatening to bomb the building, and the freshman congresswoman's name was included on a list of targets created by U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant Christopher Hasson, who the FBI arrested in February.
Ahead of the threats, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro had suggested on air that Omar may adhere to "Sharia law" and the Washington Free Beacon claimed in a report that Omar was holding "secret fundraisers with Islamic groups tied to terror."
On Tuesday, Trump drew condemnation for fanning the hatred that's been directed at Omar.
\u201cBased on Trump\u2019s agreement with Ballabon\u2019s comments, he would also be guilty of assaulting Jews through his repeated criticism and bullying of Schiff, Nadler, Schumer, and others over the years. #TrumpLies #TrumpCrimeFamily #TrumpTaxReturns\u201d— Gene Kelsey (@Gene Kelsey) 1554827076
Jewish critics including at least one rabbi were among those who came to Omar's defense, saying that--despite their shared faith with Miller--they took no exception to the Trump adviser being labeled a white nationalist.
\u201cHi, rabbi here. \n\nStephen Miller is a white nationalist.\u201d— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1554813450
\u201cJust so we\u2019re clear: Ilhan Omar not an Antisemite. Stephen Miller is a white nationalist. And Israel isn\u2019t really a democracy.\u201d— Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df (@Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df) 1554796907
\u201cGood morning to everyone except Stephen Miller, who is a white nationalist\u201d— Leah Greenberg (@Leah Greenberg) 1554814173
The Jewish American progressive group IfNotNow called the "double standard" that Ballabon and other conservatives have applied to Omar "unacceptable and clearly Islamophobic."
"Let's be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists," the group tweeted.
\u201cThe double standard being applied to @IlhanMN is unacceptable and clearly Islamophobic. \n\nLet\u2019s be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists. Here\u2019s a few of the worst:\n\nMort Klein of @ZOA_National \nSheldon Adelson\nMost of the @RJC \n\nhttps://t.co/w7aOpj2LPS\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1554831647
\u201cIt\u2019s not antisemitic to call these people out. They NEED to be called out. Otherwise, they\u2019ll keep claiming that they represent Jews because they fight for unconditional support for Israel.\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1554831647
Days after reports surfaced that Rep. Ilhan Omar had been receiving Islamophobic death threats, President Donald Trump provoked outrage when he shared on social media a video in which Omar was compared to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
On his official Twitter account, Trump retweeted a video of Republican strategist and pro-Israel lobbyist Jeff Ballabon saying Omar's recent statement that Trump adviser Stephen Miller is a white nationalist makes her "the most dangerous anti-Semite we've ever seen."
"Let's be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists. It's not antisemitic to call these people out. They NEED to be called out. Otherwise, they'll keep claiming that they represent Jews because they fight for unconditional support for Israel." --IfNotNowIn the video, Ballabon dodged a question about Miller's anti-immigrant agenda and quickly redirected the interview to Omar's perceived "attack" on Jewish people.
"What's completely unacceptable is for Ilhan Omar to yet again target Jews. In this case it's not just Stephen Miller, what she's doing is by declaring a Jew, someone who's known to be Jewish, a white nationalist, is she's saying, 'Jews, you're not minorities,'" asserted Ballabon.
"She is the most dangerous anti-Semite we've ever seen," he continued. "She's more dangerous than David Duke and Louis Farrakhan combined, because she sits where she sits and no one is stopping her, and she keeps on assaulting Jews."
\u201c\u201cShe (Congresswoman Omar) keeps on assaulting Jews...\u201d \nJeff Ballabon, B2 Strategic, CEO\u201d— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1554826198
Omar had tweeted her statement about Miller on Monday, along with a link to a story about Miller pushing for "tougher" immigration policies in the Trump administration.
\u201cStephen Miller is a white nationalist. The fact that he still has influence on policy and political appointments is an outrage. https://t.co/7NyMDgojd7\u201d— Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan Omar) 1554755653
Many found Omar's statement decidedly uncontroversial, considering Miller's support for family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border and his open association with Steve Bannon, a former Trump White House adviser and Breitbart News executive who has publicly called for "nationalist patriots" to emerge as Europe's "new elite."
\u201cwait, what? "stephen miller is a white nationalist" is controversial? the guy has done everything but openly use slurs!\u201d— b-boy bouiebaisse (@b-boy bouiebaisse) 1554810110
\u201cAstounding bad faith from the GOP. It's rather uncontroversial to suggest that Stephen Miller has white nationalist politics. But when @IlhanMN says it, it's somehow anti-Semitic??\u201d— Ishaan Tharoor (@Ishaan Tharoor) 1554776827
Trump's retweet came three days after a man identified as a supporter of the president was arrested for threatening to kill Omar in a call to her office.
A woman also called a hotel where Omar was staying in Los Angeles last week, threatening to bomb the building, and the freshman congresswoman's name was included on a list of targets created by U.S. Coast Guard lieutenant Christopher Hasson, who the FBI arrested in February.
Ahead of the threats, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro had suggested on air that Omar may adhere to "Sharia law" and the Washington Free Beacon claimed in a report that Omar was holding "secret fundraisers with Islamic groups tied to terror."
On Tuesday, Trump drew condemnation for fanning the hatred that's been directed at Omar.
\u201cBased on Trump\u2019s agreement with Ballabon\u2019s comments, he would also be guilty of assaulting Jews through his repeated criticism and bullying of Schiff, Nadler, Schumer, and others over the years. #TrumpLies #TrumpCrimeFamily #TrumpTaxReturns\u201d— Gene Kelsey (@Gene Kelsey) 1554827076
Jewish critics including at least one rabbi were among those who came to Omar's defense, saying that--despite their shared faith with Miller--they took no exception to the Trump adviser being labeled a white nationalist.
\u201cHi, rabbi here. \n\nStephen Miller is a white nationalist.\u201d— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg) 1554813450
\u201cJust so we\u2019re clear: Ilhan Omar not an Antisemite. Stephen Miller is a white nationalist. And Israel isn\u2019t really a democracy.\u201d— Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df (@Mairav Zonszein \u05de\u05e8\u05d1 \u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05e9\u05d9\u05d9\u05df) 1554796907
\u201cGood morning to everyone except Stephen Miller, who is a white nationalist\u201d— Leah Greenberg (@Leah Greenberg) 1554814173
The Jewish American progressive group IfNotNow called the "double standard" that Ballabon and other conservatives have applied to Omar "unacceptable and clearly Islamophobic."
"Let's be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists," the group tweeted.
\u201cThe double standard being applied to @IlhanMN is unacceptable and clearly Islamophobic. \n\nLet\u2019s be clear, Jews can absolutely be white nationalists. Here\u2019s a few of the worst:\n\nMort Klein of @ZOA_National \nSheldon Adelson\nMost of the @RJC \n\nhttps://t.co/w7aOpj2LPS\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1554831647
\u201cIt\u2019s not antisemitic to call these people out. They NEED to be called out. Otherwise, they\u2019ll keep claiming that they represent Jews because they fight for unconditional support for Israel.\u201d— IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25 (@IfNotNow\ud83d\udd25) 1554831647