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Trump-backing ex-general retweets anti-Semitic comment
Michael Flynn, who was shortlisted for GOP vice president, apologizes after sharing comment about Clinton saying ‘Not anymore, Jews’
A former top American security official who was shortlisted as a possible running mate for GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump retweeted anti-Semitic remarks made on social media on Sunday.
A major supporter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Retired US Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn retweeted a Twitter user named @30PiecesofAG_, (referring to the New Testament account that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver) who wrote “Not anymore, Jews. Not anymore.”
The tweet was a response to a CNN report that presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager blamed Russia for leaking Democratic National Convention emails.
Flynn, who formerly served as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency of the US military, appended “The corrupt Democratic machine will do and say anything to get #NeverHillary into power. This is a new low,” to the tweet.
He later apologized and removed the tweet, saying he had only meant to retweet the CNN link, however, not before the tweet sparked a twitterstorm of criticism.
All, this is what was meant to be retweeted…the earlier retweet was a mistake. My sincerest apologies. https://t.co/0s1OqEC3gr
— General Flynn (@GenFlynn) July 24, 2016
Flynn’s retweet was the latest in a long line of remarks by Trump and his supporters with distinct anti-Semitic overtones.
The Trump campaign has taken flak at several points during the increasingly divisive 2016 presidential campaign for messages with anti-Semitic undertones.
The Republican campaign came under fire earlier this month for accusing Clinton of corruption alongside a six-pointed star reminiscent of a Star of David, an image that drew accusations of anti-Semitic imagery.
In February, Trump refused to renounce support from a former KKK leader and told Jewish Republicans in December that he couldn’t ensure their vote because “I don’t want your money. You want to control your own politician.”
Trump’s online supporters also unleashed an anti-Semitic tirade against a Jewish New York Times editor for criticizing the Republican nominee’s refusal to renounce former KKK leader David Duke.
Democratic Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz told JTA earlier this month that while Trump himself might not be anti-Semitic, his campaign has sanctioned it.
https://twitter.com/30PiecesofAG_/status/757210685801496577
Last week Flynn railed at Clinton from the podium of the Republican National Convention, calling on the Democratic nominee to drop out of the race.
“If I did a tenth of what she did, I would be in jail. Crooked Hillary Clinton, leave this race now!” thundered retired US Army lieutenant general Michael Flynn at last Monday’s session of the Republican National Convention before a cheering crowd.
Flynn was passed over for the vice presidential nomination, but remains a front runner for a potential cabinet position, should Trump win the White House. Trump tapped Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his vice presidential candidate instead.
AP and AFP contributed to this report.
