The Star of David imagery used in a Twitter post by Donald J. Trump
this weekend had previously appeared on a message board known for
anti-Semitism and white supremacy, as well as on a Twitter account with a
history of racially charged comments, according to a report.
It is unclear where the Trump campaign discovered the image, which placed the shape of the Star of David beside a picture of Hillary Clinton
with text that read, “Most Corrupt Candidate Ever!” and a background of
$100 bills. The post on Saturday by Mr. Trump prompted immediate
criticism, fueling accusations that Mr. Trump was playing to stereotypes
of Jews.
Later on Saturday, Mr. Trump deleted the post and added another image
with a circle covering the star, though tips of the star were still
visible. While Mr. Trump’s campaign has been silent on the episode, and
did not respond to requests for comment, some of his defenders have argued that a six-pointed star is a symbol used by many sheriff’s departments.
But a report on Sunday by the news website Mic
traced the image to a website for the “alt right,” an internet-based
movement associated with white nationalism, where it appeared as early
as June 22. The origin of the image appeared to be a Twitter account
that has frequently criticized Mrs. Clinton, the presumptive Democratic
presidential nominee, and has posted caustic and violent messages about
Muslims, refugees and race.
For
much of his campaign, Mr. Trump has been criticized for appearing to
accommodate fringe groups and making comments that heartened them. He
has also reposted encouraging messages from white supremacists.
Mr.
Trump received criticism this year after he initially declined to
disavow the support of David Duke, the white nationalist and former
member of the Ku Klux Klan, before eventually distancing himself.
“I
do not know that there’s a precedent for this,” Jonathan Greenblatt,
the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, said in an interview.
“I think it’s certainly long overdue for Donald Trump as the presumptive G.O.P.
nominee and as a person in the public square to reject — to flat-out,
to firmly, to forcefully reject — the anti-Semites and the racists with a
clarity and energy he’s brought to the campaign trail when going after
other candidates,” Mr. Greenblatt said.
Mr.
Greenblatt added that research had shown that white supremacists
interpret Mr. Trump’s “hesitant disavowals” as a “green light” for their
views.
Conservatives
opposed to Mr. Trump have shuddered at what they consider to be
unsubtle dog whistles, a term for coded messages to a political
subgroup, from the candidate.
“A Star of David, a pile of cash, and suggestions of corruption,” Erick Erickson, a conservative commentator, posted on Twitter. “Donald Trump again plays to the white supremacists.”
Mr.
Trump’s supporters have cast such reactions as examples of excessive
sensitivity and political correctness. The fallout from this flap has
been no exception.
On Sunday, on CNN, Corey Lewandowski, Mr. Trump’s former campaign manager, called the reaction “political correctness run amok.”
“A tweet is a simple tweet,” he said. “The bottom line is, you can read into things that are not there.”
Aides to Mrs. Clinton, who is a Methodist, have so far declined to comment.
Mr.
Trump often speaks of his close ties to Jewish people. His daughter
Ivanka converted to Judaism when she married Jared Kushner, who has
become a close campaign adviser.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump called Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Prize winner who died Saturday, a “great man.”
“The world is a better place because of him and his belief that good can triumph over evil!” Mr. Trump posted on Twitter.
At a funeral service for Mr. Wiesel on Sunday, Ted Koppel
revealed that Mr. Wiesel recently had lunch with Mr. Trump at the
candidate’s invitation, according to two people at the memorial.
“I
am sure he did not love Donald Trump,” said Francine Klagsbrun, an
author and a friend of Mr. Wiesel’s. “I am sure he would not be voting
for Trump,” she said. “But he was just an open person who was open to
everybody.”
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