Political pundit Scott Jennings on Friday said antisemitism in the US is a problem “on the left” after CNN panelists attacked former president Donald Trump’s comments that Jewish voters would bear the blame if he lost in November.
“The antisemitism problem in this country is on the left. It is not on the right,” said Jennings, a Republican strategist.
The discussion during “CNN This Morning” centered around a clip of Trump speaking at an antisemitism event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday night.
“I say all the time that any Jewish person who votes for her [Vice President Kamala Harris], especially now, her or the Democrat party, should have their head examined,” Trump said. “The Jewish people would have a lot to do with the loss if I’m at 40%.”
The other three left-leaning guests on CNN’s panel called the comments an attack on Jewish people, but Jennings rebutted their claims and blamed Democrats for allowing antisemitism to fester.
“Let’s talk about what’s going on on all these college campuses,” Jennings said. “Let’s talk about what’s going on in the streets of New York City.”
The Republican CNN contributor pointed to anti-Israel protesters who have ripped down posters of Israeli hostages. He said it is not “Republicans ripping them down.”
Antisemitic incidents skyrocketed 361% in the months following the Oct. 7 massacre in by Hamas terrorists, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
“Everybody sitting at this table knows where the source of antisemitism is in this country,” Jennings said. “It is not on the right.”
But panelists argued that Trump’s comments were an attack on Jewish people.
“So you’re saying one person who got invited to a stupid dinner versus the thousands upon thousands upon thousands of progressive activists in the streets. That’s the equivocation?” Jennings replied.
CNN host Kasie Hunt asked why Trump tried to compete for voters “by criticizing” Jews.
Jennings responded that Trump’s comment was an “overt appeal” to voters who don’t like the Democratic party’s language and policies toward Israel.
“Well, he could have said that. I mean, he could have said it that way,” Hunt replied.
