During the closing segment of CNN’s State of the Union, host Jake Tapper unleashed a scathing critique directed at Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), accusing her of engaging in hypocritical behavior by introducing a motion to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) for alleged anti-Semitic remarks, while seemingly turning a blind eye to former President Donald Trump’s association with individuals known for Holocaust denial.
Tapper expressed his dismay at what he perceived as Greene’s selective indignation regarding anti-Semitism, highlighting how some Democrats had also condemned Tlaib’s statements regarding Israel. Tapper asserted that Greene’s actions were akin to throwing stones from within a glass house, emphasizing her apparent lack of reaction to Trump’s dining engagement with a known denier, Nick Fuentes, in November 2022, among other contentious occurrences.
The CNN anchor emphasized Trump’s posting of a divisive message on Rosh Hashanah, which accused liberal Jews of attempting to undermine both America and Israel, without any significant response from House Republican leaders. Tapper further underscored Greene’s association with Fuentes, pointing out her participation at an event organized by him in 2022.
Tapper then delved into some of Greene’s controversial beliefs, such as her promotion of the “great replacement theory” through videos, a fringe idea alleging that wealthy Jews aim to supplant White Americans and Westerners with people of color. He also mentioned her espousal of the unfounded conspiracy theory involving Jewish space lasers being used to initiate forest fires in Israel, illustrating what he deemed to be a troubling pattern of bigotry and unfounded accusations.
The degree to which some folks only pretend to care about anti-Semitism when they can weaponize, it never ceases to amaze.
The leading Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump — he dined with Holocaust deniers,” Tapper said. “Donald Trump posted a screed accusing liberal Jews of ‘voting to destroy America and Israel’ last Rosh Hashanah to nary a peep from any House Republican leaders.”
Tapper also added that Greene herself has ties to Fuentes — having spoken at an event organized by Fuentes in 2022.
“This is the same Marjorie Taylor Greene who has pushed the great replacement theory in videos,” Tapper said. “The deranged notion that rich Jews are trying to replace White Americans and Westerners with Blacks and brown Muslims. Not to mention, of course, her Jewish space laser conspiracy that a consortium including, yes, wealthy Jews, were using lasers on satellites to start forest fires here in Israel.”
In the final moments of his Sunday broadcast live from Israel, Tapper brought his monologue to a powerful close.
“Anti-Semitism is not a cudgel to be used against people for political points,” Tapper said. “Nor is Islamophobia or racism, or anti-gay behavior or misogyny or any other kind of bigotry.”
He added, “This shit is not a game.”
Concluding the segment from Israel, Tapper emphasized that combating anti-Semitism should not be weaponized for political gain, while also denouncing all forms of discrimination, including Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and other manifestations of bigotry.
