Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Feb 06, 2026

President Trump Encounters Criticism for 'Palestinian' Comments Aimed at Senator Schumer

President Trump Encounters Criticism for 'Palestinian' Comments Aimed at Senator Schumer

Trump's remarks have faced strong backlash from Jewish and Muslim groups, underscoring the persistent tensions in political discussions within the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump has faced criticism from various Jewish and Muslim organizations after he referred to Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer as having 'become a Palestinian.' These comments, made during a press event in the Oval Office, mark a notable shift from conventional political dialogue, with Trump asserting, 'He used to be Jewish. He's not Jewish anymore; he's a Palestinian.'

Senator Schumer, a prominent Democratic leader and the Senate minority leader from New York, is under pressure from Republican legislators regarding a temporary plan to avert a government shutdown. He has a long-standing history of supporting Israel, advocating for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while also voicing criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.

The remarks have drawn immediate backlash.

The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy organization, issued a statement underscoring that a president should not determine individuals' religious identities, criticizing Trump's use of the term 'Palestinian' as an inappropriate slur for someone in his position.

Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned Trump's statement as 'offensive and beneath the dignity of his office,' calling for an apology.

Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, denounced Trump's language as 'abhorrent,' connecting it to a troubling pattern of behavior that, she argues, endangers the safety of American Jews. She voiced concerns about Trump's previous ties to antisemitic rhetoric and extremist groups.

Senator Schumer's office has not yet released a public response to these recent comments.

It is worth noting that Trump has previously made similar statements about Schumer, including a controversial proposition regarding the Gaza Strip and past allegations during campaigns that Schumer had links to Hamas.

These developments occur in the context of intensified discussions surrounding religious identity, cultural representation, and political rhetoric in the United States.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Foreign Governments and Corporations Spend Millions with Trump-Linked Lobbying Firm in Washington
Saudi Arabia Quietly Allows Wealthy Foreign Residents to Buy Alcohol, Signalling Policy Shift
US and Iran to Begin Nuclear Talks in Oman
China unveils plans for a 'Death Star' capable of launching missile strikes from space
Investigation Launched at Winter Olympics Over Ski Jumpers Injecting Hyaluronic Acid
U.S. State Department Issues Urgent Travel Warning for Citizens to Leave Iran Immediately
Wall Street Erases All Gains of 2026; Bitcoin Plummets 14% to $63,000
Eighty-one-year-old man in the United States fatally shoots Uber driver after scam threat
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Begins Strategic Gulf Tour with Saudi Arabia Visit
Dubai Awards Tunnel Contract for Dubai Loop as Boring Company Plans Pilot Network
Five Key Takeaways From President Erdoğan’s Strategic Visit to Saudi Arabia
AI Invented “Hot Springs” — Tourists Arrived and Were Shocked
Erdoğan’s Saudi Arabia Visit Focuses on Trade, Investment and Strategic Cooperation
Germany and Saudi Arabia Move to Deepen Energy Cooperation Amid Global Transition
Saudi Aviation Records Historic Passenger Traffic in 2025 and Sets Sights on Further Growth in 2026
Tech Market Shifts and AI Investment Surge Drive Global Innovation and Layoffs
Global Shifts in War, Trade, Energy and Security Mark Major International Developments
Tesla Ends Model S and X Production and Sends $2 Billion to xAI as 2025 Revenue Declines
The AI Hiring Doom Loop — Algorithmic Recruiting Filters Out Top Talent and Rewards Average or Fake Candidates
Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% as Powell Faces DOJ Criminal Investigation During 2026 Decision
Putin’s Four-Year Ukraine Invasion Cost: Russia’s Mass Casualty Attrition and the Donbas Security-Guarantee Tradeoff
Saudi Crown Prince Tells Iranian President: Kingdom Will Not Host Attacks Against Iran
U.S. Central Command Announces Regional Air Exercise as Iran Unveils Drone Carrier Footage
Trump Defends Saudi Crown Prince in Heated Exchange After Reporter Questions Khashoggi Murder and 9/11 Links
Saudi Stocks Rally as Kingdom Prepares to Fully Open Capital Market to Global Investors
Air France and KLM Suspend Multiple Middle East Routes as Regional Tensions Disrupt Aviation
Saudi Arabia scales back Neom as The Line is redesigned and Trojena downsized
Saudi Industrial Group Completes One Point Three Billion Dollar Acquisition of South Africa’s Barloworld
Saudi-Backed LIV Golf Confirms Return to Trump National Bedminster for 2026 Season
Gold Jumps More Than 8% in a Week as the Dollar Slides Amid Greenland Tariff Dispute
Boston Dynamics Atlas humanoid robot and LG CLOiD home robot: the platform lock-in fight to control Physical AI
United States under President Donald Trump completes withdrawal from the World Health Organization: health sovereignty versus global outbreak early-warning access
Trump Administration’s Iran Military Buildup and Sanctions Campaign Puts Deterrence Credibility on the Line
Tech Brief: AI Compute, Chips, and Platform Power Moves Driving Today’s Market Narrative
NATO’s Stress Test Under Trump: Alliance Credibility, Burden-Sharing, and the Fight Over Strategic Territory
Saudi Arabia’s Careful Balancing Act in Relations with Israel Amid Regional and Domestic Pressures
Greenland, Gaza, and Global Leverage: Today’s 10 Power Stories Shaping Markets and Security
America’s Venezuela Oil Grip Meets China’s Demand: Market Power, Legal Shockwaves, and the New Rules of Energy Leverage
Trump’s Board of Peace: Breakthrough Diplomacy or a Hostile Takeover of Global Order?
Prince William to Make Official Visit to Saudi Arabia in February
Saudi Arabia Advances Ambitious Artificial River Mega-Project to Transform Water Security
Saudi Crown Prince and Syrian President Discuss Stabilisation, Reconstruction and Regional Ties in Riyadh Talks
Mohammed bin Salman Confronts the ‘Iranian Moment’ as Saudi Leadership Faces Regional Test
Cybercrime, Inc.: When Crime Becomes an Economy. How the World Accidentally Built a Twenty-Trillion-Dollar Criminal Economy
Strategic Restraint, Credible Force, and the Discipline of Power
Donald Trump Organization Unveils Championship Golf Course and Luxury Resort Project in Saudi Arabia
Inside Diriyah: Saudi Arabia’s $63.2 Billion Vision to Transform Its Historic Heart into a Global Tourism Powerhouse
Trump Designates Saudi Arabia a Major Non-NATO Ally, Elevating US–Riyadh Defense Partnership
Trump Organization Deepens Saudi Property Focus with $10 Billion Luxury Developments
There is no sovereign immunity for poisoning millions with drugs.
×