Trump: Congress ‘becoming antisemitic’ as ‘Jewish lobby’ no longer the most powerful in US

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump tells guests at the White House Hanukkah party that Congress “is becoming antisemitic,” as the “Jewish lobby” is no longer the strongest in Washington.

Trump initially refers to all of Congress, but then highlights the Squad of progressive Democrats, as the White House has downplayed growing criticism of Israel in the Republican Party.

“My father would tell me, the most powerful lobby that there is in this country is the Jewish Lobby. It’s the Israeli lobby. It’s not that way anymore,” Trump reflects, in a new version of comments he has made before.

“I will always be a friend and a champion to the Jewish people,” Trump says to a cheering, albeit relatively smaller crowd at the annual gathering due to the construction of the White House East Room.

After the father of slain former hostage Omer Neutra politely corrected Trump for saying that he had gotten all remaining hostages out of Gaza at an earlier Hanukkah reception of the White House, the president again mistakenly claims to have done so. The body of Ran Gvili is still held in Gaza.

Trump begins his remarks by lamenting the terror attack targeting Jews at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia on Sunday.

“All nations must stand together against the evil forces of radical Islamic terrorism, and we’re doing that,” Trump says.

He then proceeds to give shoutouts to various supporters in the crowd, asking some of them to offer some remarks at the podium.

Conservative talk show host Mark Levin calls Trump “the first Jewish president.”

Trump next calls on GOP megadonor Miriam Adelson to speak, quipping that she should do so quickly because “$250 million doesn’t buy what it used to.

Adelson tells the crowd that she spoke with lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who told her it would be legal for Trump to run for a third term.

Trump then rattles off his pro-Israel measures as president, including recognizing its sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

“I sold the rights to the Golan Heights to Israel… It could be worth trillions of dollars,” he says.