President Donald Trump says the more than two-thirds of Jews who vote for Democrats are either dumb or "disloyal."
Raising the anti-Semitic "dual loyalty" canard, Trump suggested Jews should back Republicans because the GOP offers uncritical support of Israel.
"Jewish people that vote for a Democrat _ I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump has consistently supported the Jewish state's current government over Democrats amid Israel's controversial decision to bar a visit by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
But he stumbled into backing the trope that American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their own country. Bringing up the issue of "dual loyalty" is likely to spark outcry from Jews who see it as a way to undermine their place in the American political system.
Republicans have fiercely backed Israel in recent years. Trump moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and has cut aid to the Palestinians. A proposed peace plan spearheaded by Trump senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner aims to water down Palestinian demands for their own independent state.
Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block Tlaib and Omar from visiting the West Bank, which Israel has controlled under occupation for 52 years. Israel banned the pair, sparking outrage from Democratic lawmakers.
