US President Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism from both Jewish and Muslim organisations for using the term “Palestinian” as an insult against Senator Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the country.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump remarked that Schumer had “become a Palestinian,” adding, “He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore, he’s a Palestinian.” His comments have sparked outrage, with many condemning them as offensive and inappropriate.
Schumer, a veteran Democratic senator from New York, has come under pressure from Republicans this week over his reluctance to support their proposed stopgap measure to prevent a government shutdown. He has long been a vocal advocate for Israel, endorsing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while also criticising Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza.
Trump’s remarks drew sharp condemnation from advocacy groups. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish activist organisation, denounced his statement, asserting that a US president has no authority to determine who is or isn’t Jewish. “Using ‘Palestinian’ as a slur is beneath any president,” the group declared in a post on X.
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), also demanded an apology from Trump, stating that his use of the term in a derogatory manner was “offensive and beneath the dignity of his office.”
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, condemned Trump’s rhetoric, calling it “abhorrent.” She accused the former president of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, attacking democratic institutions, and aligning himself with right-wing extremists, all of which, she argued, put American Jews at risk.
Trump has previously used similar language against Schumer. Last month, he referred to the senator as a “Palestinian” while promoting his widely criticised proposal for the US to take control of Gaza and relocate Palestinians. Before the last election, he also accused Schumer of being a “proud member of Hamas.”
