Netanyahu, Trump, and the Weaponization of Anti-Semitic Tropes

Introduction

The political rhetoric of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly intersected with anti-Semitic tropes despite their claims to combat anti-Jewish hatred.

While both leaders position themselves as defenders of Jewish communities, their language and alliances often reinforce harmful stereotypes, conflate criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, and exploit Jewish identity for political gain.

FAF examines the most common anti-Semitic tropes invoked or amplified by Netanyahu and Trump, contextualizing their statements within broader patterns of historical prejudice and contemporary political strategy.

Conflating Anti-Zionism with Anti-Semitism

Netanyahu’s Redefinition of Anti-Semitism

Netanyahu has consistently framed the denial of Israel’s right to exist as the “ultimate anti-Semitism.” By equating anti-Zionism—opposition to Israel’s political ideology—with hatred of Jews, he weaponizes the trauma of the Holocaust to silence critics of Israeli policies.

In 2018, he asserted that questioning Israel’s legitimacy is inherently anti-Semitic, arguing that such criticism mirrors the historical persecution of Jews.

This conflation ignores legitimate debates over statehood and occupation, reducing complex political discourse to a binary of support or hatred for Jews.

Trump echoed this approach by labeling the Democratic Party as “anti-Israel” and “anti-Semitic,” claiming Jewish voters who support Democrats “hate their religion”.

This rhetoric not only dismisses diverse Jewish political views but also reinforces the trope of dual loyalty, suggesting Jewish Americans prioritize Israel over their own country.

Dual Loyalty and Jewish Political Control

Trump’s Stereotypes of Jewish Influence

Trump has repeatedly invoked the dual loyalty trope, alleging that Jewish Americans’ political choices reflect allegiance to Israel rather than the U.S. In 2021, he claimed Israel once held “absolute power over Congress” and accused Jewish Democrats of disloyalty, stating they “either don’t like Israel or don’t care about Israel.”

These remarks perpetuate the anti-Semitic notion that Jews possess undue influence over governments and prioritize communal interests over national ones.

His 2024 assertion that “any Jewish person who votes for Democrats hates their religion” further entrenches this stereotype, framing Jewish identity as incompatible with progressive politics.

Such rhetoric mirrors historic accusations that Jews manipulate political systems, a trope weaponized in Nazi propaganda to justify persecution.

Netanyahu’s Complicity in Dual Loyalty Narratives

While Netanyahu seldom addresses U.S. domestic politics directly, his close alliance with Trump and evangelical Christians—who often conflate Jewish identity with unconditional support for Israel—bolsters dual loyalty narratives.

By praising Trump’s policies, such as moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, Netanyahu legitimizes the idea that Jewish Americans owe primary allegiance to Israel.

This dynamic was starkly illustrated in a 2019 cartoon depicting Netanyahu as a guide dog leading Trump (wearing a kippah), which invoked anti-Semitic imagery of Jewish control over leaders.

Exploiting Holocaust Imagery and Nazi Comparisons

Netanyahu’s Holocaust Instrumentalization

Netanyahu frequently invokes the Holocaust to deflect criticism of Israel’s military actions. During the 2023 Gaza conflict, he compared pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses to “Nazi Germany of the 1930s”.

Such analogies trivialize the Holocaust and weaponize Jewish trauma to portray Israel as perpetually under existential threat. Critics argue this tactic stifles legitimate discourse by equating contemporary political dissent with genocidal ideologies.

Trump’s Evangelical Alliances and End-Times Rhetoric

Trump’s alignment with Christian Zionists, who often support Israel for eschatological reasons, introduces another layer of anti-Semitic tropes. Leaders like John Hagee—who claimed the Holocaust was part of God’s plan to return Jews to Israel—promote theology that envisions Jews either converting or perishing in an apocalyptic scenario.

By catering to these groups, Trump tacitly endorses narratives that reduce Jewish people to pawns in a divine plan, echoing medieval Christian anti-Jewish polemics.

Jewish Control of Media and Finance

Trump’s Attacks on Jewish-Led Institutions

Trump has repeatedly targeted Jewish-dominated institutions with anti-Semitic stereotypes. In 2021, he asserted that “Jewish people run The New York Times,” accusing the paper of hating Israel.

This echoes the trope of Jewish control over media, a cornerstone of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories like The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Similarly, his 2015 remark that Jews “want to control your politicians” reinforces the stereotype of Jews as manipulative power brokers.

Netanyahu’s Silence on Far-Right Conspiracies

While Netanyahu condemns anti-Zionism, he has remained silent on anti-Semitic conspiracy theories propagated by allies.

For instance, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, whom Netanyahu praised for combating anti-Semitism, has accused financier George Soros (a frequent target of anti-Semitic vitriol) of undermining European nations.

By aligning with far-right leaders who traffic such tropes, Netanyahu normalizes their rhetoric, even as he claims to fight anti-Jewish prejudice.

Portrayals of Jews as Monstrous or Parasitic

Anti-Semitic Caricatures in Political Cartoons

Netanyahu’s policies have inspired cartoons drawing on classic anti-Semitic imagery. A 2024 Montreal cartoon depicted him as the vampire Nosferatu, evoking Nazi-era depictions of Jews as bloodthirsty parasites.

Similarly, a 2020 New York Times cartoon showed Netanyahu as a dachshund with a Star of David collar leading Trump, invoking the “puppetmaster” trope.

Although Netanyahu condemned these images, his rhetoric—such as accusing critics of “blood libels” for highlighting Gaza’s humanitarian crisis—fuels dehumanizing narratives.

Trump’s Rhetorical Dehumanization

Trump’s description of Palestinians as needing to be “settled” elsewhere so Gaza can become a “Riviera” for “the world’s people” echoes anti-Semitic fantasies of Jewish displacement.

His administration’s policies, such as supporting West Bank settlements, reinforce the stereotype of Jews as colonial interlopers, a narrative leveraged by both anti-Zionists and anti-Semites.

The “Jewish Conspiracy” in Global Affairs

Netanyahu’s Accusations of International Bias

Netanyahu routinely frames international criticism of Israel as part of a coordinated anti-Jewish campaign. In 2021, he dismissed an ICC war crimes investigation as “pure antisemitism,” alleging the court targeted Israel unfairly. This rhetoric mirrors the anti-Semitic trope of a global cabal singling out Jews for persecution, undermining legitimate legal and diplomatic processes.

Trump’s “Deep State” and Globalist Dog Whistles

Trump’s references to a “deep state” opposing his policies often overlap with anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about shadowy elites controlling governments.

While not explicitly naming Jews, his attacks on “globalists”—a term widely recognized as an anti-Semitic dog whistle—resonate with far-right groups that blame Jewish financiers for globalization’s ills.

Conclusion

The Normalization of Anti-Semitic Tropes

Netanyahu and Trump’s rhetoric demonstrates how anti-Semitic tropes can be repackaged as a defense of Jewish interests.

By conflating anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, invoking dual loyalty, and aligning with actors who traffic in conspiracies, they perpetuate stereotypes that endanger Jewish communities worldwide.

Their approach not only distracts from genuine anti-Jewish hatred but also erodes the credibility of efforts to combat it. As Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt warns, weaponizing anti-Semitism for political ends “cheapens the term and makes it harder to address real threats.”

Addressing this requires disentangling legitimate criticism of state policies from age-old bigotry, a task undermined by leaders who exploit Jewish trauma for partisan gain.