“your perception that Trump encouraged anti-Semitism”
Trump definitely encouraged anti-Semitism. That is not my perception, that is fact.
He endorsed a neo-Nazi, Paul Nehlen, in a congressional primary. That even a single Jew could support Trump after that shows that Trump Jews have interests other than those of the Jewish people as primary.
He came before the Republican Jewish Coalition and spouted meme after meme. Quotes: “Is there anybody that doesn’t renegotiate deals in this room? This room negotiates them – perhaps more than any other room I’ve ever spoken in.” and “You’re not gonna support me because I don’t want your money. You want to control your politicians, that’s fine.” At a later Republican Jewish Coaltion event he would refer to Benjamin Netanyahu as “your prime minister”. (Well I wish we did have Netanyahu as the US head of government rather than Trump, as Netanyahu has about 40 more IQ points and did a great job on COVID-19, unlike the venal Trump.} These are exactly the same memes for which Ilhan Omar correctly gets called out for anti-Semitism. Anyone calling out Omar but supporting Trump is a hypocrite whose interest is other than fighting anti-Semitism.
Trump said that “very fine people” marched with Nazis in Charlottesville. Absolutely no excuse for that. Unequivocably condemning Nazis should be the easist political position to take, but Trump had to make it like he was looking to get supporters on both sides. (Note that both David Duke and Louis Farrakhan had supported Trump in 2016. Three hatemongers — all birds of a feather.)
Trump isn’t the kind of anti-Semite who would ever shoot up a synagogue. No Trump supporter has ever done that. But he is the kind of anti-Semite who fans the flames of hate, including anti-Semitism, and that is what most of Europe was like in the 19th century. The 20th century followed.
🙁