Ari Harrow, former chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pointed out that Trump received the highest level of Jewish support for a Republican candidate in years, particularly in key states.
Harrow noted that antisemitism had been on the rise long before the tragic events of October 7, 2023, when violence erupted in Israel, and that this surge in hate had created a climate of fear among U.S. Jews. After October 7, the situation worsened, with incidents on campuses and public protests that evoked painful memories of historical persecution.
According to ynet reports, Harrow suggested that these developments pushed many Jewish voters to consider Trump, who they believed might offer a stronger stance on combating antisemitism.
Maury Litwack, from the Teach Coalition, observed a record Jewish voter turnout, particularly in New York and other battleground states. Litwack attributed the increased support for Republicans to growing frustration with the Democratic Party's handling of antisemitism, especially in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. His comments reflected the broader trend of Jewish voters seeking more proactive action against rising hate speech and violence.
The Republican Jewish Coalition also invested heavily in the election, committing $15 million to support Trump, arguing that he was better aligned with Jewish voter interests than his Democratic opponents.
Notably, Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism before her marriage to Jared Kushner, made history as the first Jewish member of a U.S. first family during her father's presidency, further influencing Jewish perceptions of the Trump administration.
