Trump: Chuck Schumer ‘used to be Jewish’ but is now ‘a Palestinian’

US President Donald Trump falsely says that Senator Chuck Schumer is no longer Jewish and calls him a “Palestinian” while speaking to reporters.

The remarks are the latest instance in which Trump has used “Palestinian” as an epithet to refer to Schumer, whom he once also falsely called “a proud member of Hamas.” Generally, Trump has opted for such language to disparage Democrats whom he sees as inadequately supportive of Israel.

In this case, by contrast, Trump makes the comments alongside Irish leader Micheál Martin while talking about corporate tax rates. After saying that the American public will blame Democrats for high taxes, Trump launches into an aside on the New York senator, his top adversary in Congress who on Wednesday was opposing a Republican-drafted funding bill. (The setting is ironic for the comments as the Irish government is staunchly pro-Palestinian.)

“And Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I’m concerned,” Trump says. “You know, he’s become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore. He’s a Palestinian.”

Schumer, the New York Democrat and Senate minority leader, has spoken frequently about his Jewish identity throughout his political career. He is soon to release a book about fighting antisemitism.

A spokesperson for Schumer does not immediately respond to a request for comment. Both Trump’s supporters and opponents are sharing clips of the remark online, and it has drawn criticism from some liberal Jewish organizations.