Deserves blame

Christie: Trump deserves blame for rise in antisemitism

“Intolerance toward anyone encourages intolerance toward everyone,” Christie said.

By KELLY GARRITY

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reiterated his claim that former President Donald Trump has fueled the increase in antisemitism and hate across the country Sunday, saying Trump’s “intolerant language and conduct” has given people “permission” to act the same.

“When you show intolerance toward everyone, which is what [Trump] does, you give permission as a leader for others to have their intolerance come out,” Christie said Sunday during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Intolerance toward anyone encourages intolerance toward everyone.”

The Republican presidential hopeful previously slammed Trump, the current GOP frontrunner in the presidential race, for contributing to the surge in bigotry against Jews in an interview with the New York Times during his trip to Israel earlier this month. Antisemitism was already on the rise in the United States, but the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas has led to sharp jumps in the number of antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents in the U.S.

It’s not just Trump, Christie noted, accusing university professors and presidents of being “unwilling to stand up to antisemitism on their campuses,” and calling on governors in states where Jewish students are facing threats on college campuses to send state police forces to protect those students.

“I think that there have been a lot of people who contributed to it,” Christie said Sunday. “I believe Donald Trump’s intolerant language and conduct gives others permission to act the same.”