Pence Tokenizes Jewish Grandchildren to Deflect Accusations of Antisemitism
During the 2020 Vice Presidential debate, Vice President Pence invoked Trump’s Jewish grandchildren in response to Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) noting and demanding answers for Trump’s pattern of racism and antisemitism:
"Your concern that he doesn’t condemn neo-Nazis — President Trump has Jewish grandchildren.”
- Vice President Mike Pence
Trump’s Jewish relatives are regularly invoked by those seeking to deflect attention away from his antisemitism and white nationalism. But having Jewish family members does not automatically mean someone cannot be antisemitic. Trump’s behavior has repeatedly demonstrated his propensity for spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories, a willingness to endanger Jews, and a desire to solicit support from far-right extremists.
It is dehumanizing to use Jewish children as a political tool to defend indefensible behavior. The Vice Presidential debate was not the first time Pence insulted the American Jewish community: in 2018, immediately after the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, Pence invited a Messianic “Rabbi” — a man who was, in actuality, an Evangelical Christian appropriating Jewish practice — to share the stage and offer a prayer.
Jewish organizations responded with outrage at Pence’s remarks: