LAS VEGAS — Donald Trump wasn’t in the room Thursday at the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) in the swing state’s Sin City, but he still had the crowd of hundreds on their feet cheering on his pro-Israel message.
“Kamala Harris is the candidate of the forces who want to destroy Western Civilization and Israel,” Trump told attendees via video link. “I am the candidate of those who want to defend Western Civilization, defend Israel.”
“You’re not going to have an Israel if she becomes president,” Trump warned. “Israel will no longer exist.”
Trump was met with cheers and roaring applause from his eager audience when he pledged that his administration would “keep America safe, and make sure that Israel is with us for thousands of years.”
The ex-prez decried the Hamas terrorists who last weekend killed six Jewish hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin
“Only an evil and inhuman, really inhuman ideology, kidnaps, tortures and murders innocent men, women and children,” Trump said of the terrorists.
“Likewise,” he said, addressing Democrats, “only a deeply sick political party here in America would make common cause with those who sympathize with such evil and they are.”
Trump then touted his foreign policy record to the audience.
“When I left office, America was safe. Israel was safe. The Jewish people were safe, and the whole world was at peace,” he said. “American Jews felt safe on our streets and college campuses when I was president and we kept radical Islamic terrorists out of our country.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition has been dependably pro-Trump in recent years, and this one was no exception. Attendees hoisted placards with “Trump” in Hebrew and English lettering, and cards reading “Kamala … Oy Vey!” a Yiddish expression conveying dismay or grief.
Matt Brooks, the coalition’s chief executive, said the RJC is spending $15 million this cycle to get out the vote and reach “persuadable” Jewish voters in swing states, including Nevada, Arizona and Pennsylvania.
One of the persuaded Thursday was Harvard University grad student Shabbos Kestenbaum, who said he remains a registered Democrat but will vote for Trump because of the anti-Jewish positions expressed by President Biden and Veep Harris.
