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Newsmax, the extremist, far-right news network that devotes most of its time and energy to praising Donald Trump and attacking President Joe Biden, made a major misstep on Thursday, May 13.
During a segment criticizing President Biden's response to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, host Grant Stinchfield claimed Israel was the "home country" of American Jewish people.
You can see the moment here:
Newsmax host: "If you are Jewish and you are a Democrat and you are living in America today, how do you support an administration that turns its back on your home country?"pic.twitter.com/yc9RjpHxlU— Jason Campbell (@Jason Campbell) 1620913194
The statement received immediate backlash for being antisemitic.
There\u2019s the \u201cdual-loyalty\u201d trope, and then there\u2019s Newsmax\u2019s Grant Stinchfield saying that American Jews aren\u2019t actually American at all (they\u2019re just \u201cliving in America,\u201d away from their \u201chome country\u201d). Absolutely vile.https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1392837004350484492\u00a0\u2026— Parker Molloy (@Parker Molloy) 1620924134
Obviously, Jews born in the United States are US citizens and consider the USA their home country.
Jew here. Care deeply about Israel. My wife was born there. Israel isn't my home country. 100% American.— Josh Marshall (@Josh Marshall) 1620915746
If you're Jewish and a Democrat and living in America today, congratulations, you're Jewish and a Democrat and living in America today— Jane Coaston (@Jane Coaston) 1620914259
Anti-Semitic concern-trolling.— Matthew Rettenmund (@Matthew Rettenmund) 1620916624
Stinchfield has gotten into similar trouble before for claiming there's a "strong case" President Biden is "not really a Catholic."
Also this seems like a fun way to imply that being Jewish means that you are required to hold a certain opinion about the events taking place in a country in which you do not live, and I do not cotton to that sort of argument— Jane Coaston (@Jane Coaston) 1620914961
AssumingAmericanJewshave anallegiancetoIsraelisantiSemitichttps://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1392839830309154817\u00a0\u2026— Will swart (@Will swart) 1620915814
I'm a Jew. I care deeply about Israel, although I've never once visited. It's not my "home country." I am thoroughly American. Proudly and loudly so. Born here, raised here. \n\nWhy do we Jews keep having to "prove" our loyalty to some on the far right and left? It's exhausting.pic.twitter.com/G4KfcotK1q— Russell Drew (@Russell Drew) 1620914972
After facing intense backlash from all sides, Stinchfield was removed from the air.
He was replaced temporarily by Eric Bolling, the former Fox News host who was suspended from the network after sexual harassment allegations.
It's usually the anti-semitic people who think American Jews *must* support Israel without question.\n\nNewsmax's Grant Stinchfield should APOLOGIZE to every American Jew for saying that our "home country" isn't the USA, and for politicizing us for supporting Biden. Disgusting.— Jake Lobin (@Jake Lobin) 1620918864
In Russia, Russians didn't consider Russian Jews Russian. The result\u2014pogroms.\n\nIn Germany, Germans didn't consider German Jews German. The result\u2014the Holocaust.\n\nTrump and his Newsmax pals don't consider American Jews American, but Israeli.\n\nIt's antisemitism, and it's dangerous.https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1392837004350484492\u00a0\u2026— Seth Abramson (@Seth Abramson) 1620919542
Ditto. There's a distant branch of my paternal GM's family in Israel, I've never spoken, met or corresponded with. No visits or plan to visit. Have opinions. That's my whole connection.— \u2721\ufe0f MG \u2721\ufe0f #LetsGetToWork #BidenAgenda (@\u2721\ufe0f MG \u2721\ufe0f #LetsGetToWork #BidenAgenda) 1620913600
Many pointed out Stinchfield was spreading common antisemitic rhetoric in the guise of kindness towards the Jewish community.
I'm Jewish. I was born and raised in Wisconsin, I've lived in Illinois and Missouri, and I'm living today in New York. I've never been to Israel. Israel isn't my home country.— Alex Basson \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf89 (@Alex Basson \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf89) 1620914908
When @stinchfield1776 calls Israel the "home country" of Jewish Americans, he's explicitly saying that Jewish Americans are not real Americans.\n\nThat, right there, is probably why Jewish Americans do not support him.https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1392837004350484492\u00a0\u2026— Noah Smith \ud83d\udc07 (@Noah Smith \ud83d\udc07) 1620928840
A Jewish person can care about what's happening in Israel while still considering themselves American just like the descendants of Italian immigrants can care about Italy.
This shouldn't need to be pointed out.
When someone on the far right tells American Jews that Israel is our "home country," what is being said is, "You don't belong here." To them it doesn't matter where we were born: We're unwanted immigrants on their land.https://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1392837004350484492\u00a0\u2026— Mark Harris (@Mark Harris) 1620926256
republicans have a special ability to end up being antisemitic while attempting to pander to american jewshttps://twitter.com/JasonSCampbell/status/1392837004350484492\u00a0\u2026— Right Wing Cope (@Right Wing Cope) 1620926180
It's unclear whether Newsmax will allow Stinchfield to return to the airwaves anytime soon.
Even if he does, many viewers will likely have a hard time forgetting this uncomfortable moment.