President Donald Trump had special praise on Monday for former New York legislator Dov Hikind, founder of the Americans Against Antisemitism organization. The praise went two ways, however: Hikind made it clear in an interview Monday on Fox News that this weekend’s anti-Semitic machete attack at a Chassidic rabbi’s home had nothing to do with President Trump – and responsibility for doing something about it lay right at the door of city hall, and at the governor’s mansion.
“The acts of antisemitism that have happened in New York have nothing to do with the Right, have nothing to do with the president,” the former state assemblyman told Fox News. This, after NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio was shown saying that an “atmosphere of hate” has been developing in the US, much of it “emanating from Washington.” A quick splice with Governor Andrew Cuomo followed, showing the governor at a news conference in Monsey the morning after the machete attack, saying “It’s an intolerant time” in the US.
The president is generally quick to respond with thanks when he is praised, as well as when he is insulted — as Hikind quickly found out.
Thank you to highly respected Jewish leader Dov Hikind for his wonderful statements about me this morning on .
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
The president’s tweet followed one posted by Hikind, thanking Trump for all he has done and continues to do “to protect the Jewish people all the while making America stronger and more prosperous!”
That might not seem so unusual, except Hikind is a Democrat, and Trump is a Republican.
Thank you Mr. President for all you’ve done and continue to do to protect the Jewish people all the while making America stronger and more prosperous!
God should increase your strength to rise above all the obstacles placed before you! ?? https://t.co/QsdDApNagx
— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov)
Hikind blessed the president with the hope that God should increase his strength to “rise above all the obstacles placed before” him.