Speaking to the Republican Jewish Coalition on Thursday, Donald Trump once again demonstrated how he is not your typical presidential candidate.
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After observing a moment of silence for victims of Wednesday’s shooting, Ted Cruz, the first candidate onstage, acknowledged that the motive behind the shooting is still unclear. “ISIL loves Donald Trump because he is giving them an opportunity to bring people their way”, Graham told reporters after his speech. Trump was booed when he didn’t commit to pushing for making Jerusalem Israel’s capital instead of Tel Aviv.
But while Trump tried to win over the audience of wealthy Jewish Republicans, the billionaire presidential candidate said he didn’t believe the assembled crowd would support him. “And I know why you’re not going to support me, it’s because I don’t want your money”.
He also blasted “isolationists” in his own party who want to cut America’s defense budget.
Cruz framed his answer using a frequent stump speech point.
Trump touted his past and current support for Israel, bragging that he would “do more for Israel than everybody else”. Marco Rubio told the crowd. Some in our own party actually call for more sacrifice from the Israeli people.
“Israel has given a lot but hasn’t been given a lot of credit for what they’ve given”, Trump said.
At the RJC, he implied he would not win the Jewish vote in the Republican primary, which he now leads, because he is not seeking donor funds.
Adelson’s willingness to make a huge political investment helps explain why his signature group has attracted all of the major GOP presidential candidates to its forum in Washington – even though the man himself wasn’t among the hundreds in attendance.
Other parts of Trump’s address were much more well-received, including his attacks against the Iran nuclear deal, his criticism of Secretary of State John Kerry, and his praise for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We must not pressure Israel on settlements until Palestinians recognize Israel and it borders”, Bush said.
And on Thursday, attendees at the RJC’s meeting hinted at why – Rubio, they said, may be a victor on substance, but he left clear questions on style. Adding, “You just like me because my daughter (Ivanka) happens to be Jewish”.
The comment drew murmurs of disapproval.
The jeering happened when a moderator, who asked questions after Trump’s speech, asked Trump if he would unequivocally name Jerusalem as the unquestioned capital of Israel. “Do me a favor”. Graham’s remarks trended on Twitter mid-morning, as he called for GOP candidates to be more moderate on social issues.
Yet he hasn’t ignored donors altogether. Several candidates blasted him from the stage. “This is not a real estate deal where the two sides are arguing over money”. “It’s a struggle to safeguard the future of Israel”.
“I think you can be pro-life as you want to be, as long as you’re honest, and as long as you have a reasonable approach to the pro-life issue”.
Carson was mocked in The New York Times for his speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition, notably a continued inability to pronounce the radical group Hamas: It came out sounding like hummus. “He should know better, and probably does”. “I’ve made a lot of money”. “They look at my wall, and it’s loaded up” with awards from Jewish groups, he boasted, before adding that “the Christians are catching up, though, they’re catching up”. Both Adelsons have been publicly generous with their donations, with more than $98 million spent in the 2012 election cycle, but it has always been as a couple.
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While there was no chance Thursday for the candidates to interact with Adelson, who is on a personal trip, many candidates already have met with him.
