Trump Compares US Antisemitism to 1938 Nazi Germany

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed deep concern over rising antisemitism in the United States, comparing the current situation to Germany in 1938, on the eve of World War II. Speaking to conservative host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday, Trump stated he was astonished by the extent of anti-Jewish acts in the country, calling it "completely crazy what is happening." FBI statistics indicate a high level of antisemitic crimes, with 63% of religiously motivated hate crimes in 2025 targeting Jews, down from 70% in 2024. Trump's remarks followed the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the November 9-10, 1938 pogrom that escalated Nazi persecution of Jews. The president also blamed his predecessor, Barack Obama, for the rise in antisemitism, claiming it began under his administration. However, Anti-Defamation League data shows that antisemitic incidents, which began increasing in late Obama's second term, continued to rise during Trump's first presidency. This period included the October 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, the deadliest anti-Jewish attack in U.S. history. The phenomenon has reportedly intensified since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Trump defended his administration's firm stance against American universities, which he accused of insufficient action against campus antisemitism, specifically calling Harvard "antisemitic." His administration has imposed financial sanctions and suspended federal research funding for some institutions. This approach has drawn mixed reactions within the American Jewish community, with some supporting the administration's efforts while others criticize the financial penalties and fear political exploitation of the issue. Trump, a vocal supporter of Israel, also voiced frustration over a majority of Michigan Jewish voters supporting progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in recent Senate elections, remarking, "It's a tough group to convince."