Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump points to his ear as he speaks at the Economic Club of New York in New York City, Sept. 5, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Prominent Jewish organizations were quick to issue statements on Wednesday congratulating Donald Trump for his victory in the US presidential election the previous night, promising to work with the president-elect on supporting Israel and combating antisemitism when he officially returns to the White house in January.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization that fights antisemitism and discrimination more broadly, said the ADL looked forward to working with the incoming administration and all elected US officials “in pursuit of our 111-year-old mission — to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all.”
“We remain steadfastly committed to that timeless mission as we fight the torrent of antisemitism sweeping our society along with all forms of hate and extremism — offline and online, on campuses and in schools, in the US and around the world,” Greenblatt added in a statement congratulating Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) also congratulated Trump, with CEO Ted Deutch saying his organization “looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and his administration on the domestic and foreign policy concerns that are AJC’s advocacy priorities.”
Noting Iran’s ongoing war against Israel, primarily through its terrorist proxies Hamas and Hezbollah, Deutch said strong US leadership is needed to bring about peace and stability.
“The conflicts we are currently seeing around the world reflect a dangerous collusion among anti-democratic regimes and non-state actors. The US must exert clear global leadership and be a stabilizing power as the world contends with these many threats,” he said.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the foremost pro-Israel lobbying group in the US, said that it would eagerly “work with the new administration and Congress” to help defend Israel against Iran and its proxies.
“We look forward to working together with the new administration and Republicans and Democrats in Congress to strengthen and expand the US-Israel relationship,” AIPAC wrote. “Despite the current profound political polarization, there remains a resolute bipartisan commitment to the US-Israel alliance. The US-Israel relationship is a mutually beneficial alliance based on shared values and interests.”
The Jewish Federations of North America congratulated Trump and Vance on their victory.
“Jewish Federations will always work tirelessly to ensure that our Jewish communities flourish. At this challenging moment in our history, we look forward to working with the new administration and Congress to promote our values, fight antisemitism, secure our community, and maintain steadfast support for Israel,” the organization said in a statement. “After a divisive election, we are working to unite our community at our Stand Together event in Washington, DC this Sunday, and set the Jewish communal agenda for the coming year at our General Assembly immediately after.”
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations wished Trump and Vance “the best as the transition process begins and the two prepare to assume office on Jan. 20, 2025. We trust that the new administration will work diligently to combat antisemitism and advance the bilateral US-Israel relationship by building on accomplishments from President Trump’s first term including the historic Abraham Accords.”
Harriet Schleifer and William Daroff, chair and CEO respectively of the umbrella group, also congratulated Trump’s election opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, “on a hard fought and spirited campaign and we wish her the very best.”
The leadership of the Orthodox Union, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, said in a statement that, “with campaigning now over, we look forward to working with all Americans to mend the divisions in our society and bring the country together to overcome the current challenges we face.”
The organization congratulated all candidates who were elected to the Congress and said it “looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and his incoming administration on matters of critical importance to our community, including effectively combating the surge of antisemitism in America, further strengthening the US-Israel relationship, and defeating Hamas and Hezbollah, thwarting Iran’s malign activities, expanding educational opportunity and choice for all American children, and defending America’s ‘first freedom’ of religious liberty.”
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, which represents more than 2,500 Orthodox rabbis, also congratulated Trump.
“We applaud the efforts of both candidates to reach out to our community, and note that Mr. Trump garnered record Jewish support, not only from Orthodox Jews, who supported him by an overwhelming margin, but from most voters who, when surveyed, placed concern for Israel and rising antisemitism in the US high on their list of priorities,” Schonfeld said. “We hope that Mr. Trump will further his previous steps to fight antisemitism on campus and in American society, and continue his visionary efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.”
The Union for Reform Judaism also released a statement on Trump’s victory.
“We hope and pray that he will be a president for all Americans, advancing the principles of democracy, justice, and commitment to rule of law that have been sources of strength for our nation throughout its history,” the organization said in a statement.
“We stand ready to join with the new administration and Congress on any efforts to protect ‘the orphan, the widow, and the stranger,’” the union added. “We will be allies to any serious effort to combat antisemitism. We will champion a strong US-Israel relationship that fosters democracy and security for the Jewish state while upholding the rights and well-being of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.”
The organization also criticized Trump for some of his policies and rhetoric.
