(Last update: December 9, 2020)
The title of this essay is unclear. It can have more than one meaning.
First, it can mean that US President Donald Trump has betrayed America. For some in America, that is precisely why Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives at the end of 2019. This is also why he has--so far--lost the 2020 national election.
Such is the destiny, many in America say, of those who would betray their country. Such is Trump's destiny.
But this same title might mean something else: that America has betrayed Donald Trump. For other Americans, that is precisely why Trump is "losing" the 2020 election. He had accomplished much as President, these voices say, despite having to contend with a hostile, anti-Trump-obsessed media--and equally obsessed Democrat politicians. According to these American voices, Trump's current election problems derive in large measure from a corrupt media narrative that has successfully seduced enough Americans to destroy the Trump Presidency by voting for Joe Biden.
In truth, this essay is about both meanings.
In one sense, Donald Trump has indeed "betrayed" America. After all, he has become only the third US President in American history to be impeached. His behavior has, in other words, offended enough Americans that his impeachment became a necessity.
Trump had 'misbehaved'. He had to be punished for his 'sins'; and he was.
But that very impeachment revealed how it was America itself that might have betrayed its President. During the months leading up to that impeachment, Americans were told repeatedly (by the mainstream press) that Trump had committed crimes for which he needed to be impeached.
During that same period, too many Americans accepted that drumbeat. Too few objected. The result was, according to some, America betrayed its President with a bogus impeachment.
Why was Trump impeached? Do you remember?
Well, in the opening statement of Trump's impeachment trial, the Democrats' opening argument was presented by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif-D). In that statement, Schiff did not accuse Trump of having committed treason. He did not accuse Trump of bribery. He accused Trump of seeking to "perpetuate himself in office by inviting foreign interference and cheating in an election" (ibid). Trump needed to be impeached, Schiff argued, because Trump was a man "who would subvert the interests of his nation to pursue his own interests" (here).
Is this what you remember of his impeachment? Trump was impeached for "pursuing his own interests"? Really?
Yes, really. That is what Adam Schiff said about impeaching Donald Trump.
Here are some of Schiff's other allegations:
-Trump was a man "who would be a king" (ibid).
-Trump had worked to secure foreign interference in our democratic elections" (ibid).
-He had tried to use US State power to influence the Ukrainian President to act in a way that would "advantage himself [Trump] in our democratic election"...to win re-election in 2020" (ibid).
-He had tried to start a [corrupt] "investigation...into former Vice President Joe Biden, who had sought the removal of a corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor during the previous US administration" (ibid).
The list of his accusations goes on. You can read them all here.
The bottom line here is that Donald Trump was not impeached because of "high crimes"--that is, because of bribery or treason. He was impeached for, essentially, what the Constitution calls, "misdemeanors"--crimes so inconsequential they are generally not worth prosecuting.
What were Trump's misdemeanors? He had "abused his power". He had "obstructed" Congress" (here).
Some in America today say that the 2020 elections were corrupted by several forms of illegal election "abuses"--and by outright fraud. These allegations have yet to be proven in court. Nevertheless, while the media in America has repeatedly called Trump "corrupt", the alleged "corruption" (fraud) of the 2020 election didn't come from Trump; it came, allegations say, from Democrats trying to unseat Trump.
Corrupt elections stain a nation's democracy. They suggest a betrayal of the most basic of a democracy's promises: honest and trustworthy elections.
Who is now being accused of betrayal--Trump, or his enemies? His enemies.
Of course, Trump hasn't proven his case. At least, not yet.
Will he? G-d knows.
Nevertheless, the operative word here is not "proven". The operative word here is betrayal.
The courts will decide what is the correct way to view the 2020 election: either Trump's allegations of fraud are correct; or, his enemies' saying Trump's allegations are "Pathetic", "Bizarre" and "Baseless". We will let the courts sort that out.
For our discussion, however, it's "betrayal" that counts. Betrayal involves dishonesty. It refers to "throwing someone under the bus". Is that what has happened in the 2020 elections--the attempt to throw Trump under the proverbial bus?
In America, some have argued that Trump betrayed America because he was power-hungry. Others have said, it wasn't Trump who was power-hungry, but a group of politicians and media personalities. They, not Trump, had betrayed America.
Who is correct? You tell me.
Unfortunately for US Jews, betrayal is not limited to politics. It applies as well to Jews.
In fact, one can argue that Jewish history is all about the betrayal of Jews. You see, betrayal is what happens to Jews when a surrounding non-Jewish culture needs a scapegoat. At one critical national or regional moment, Jews are betrayed. They are denounced. Their rights are taken from them. They are betrayed ("handed over") to federal or local authorities. They are oppressed. They are attacked.
Because they are Jews.
This is exactly what happened to Jews in the Biblical Exodus story. It's what happened to Jews in the Purim story. It's what happened in the Chanukah story. It's what happened in Europe during the Crusades. It's what happened during 17th-20th century pogroms in Europe and the Middle East.
It's what happened in the Holocaust.
It continues. Around the world, news stories fill with anti-Semitic sentiments. Everywhere, , people demonize Jews in speeches, on videos, in articles, in op-ed essays. Such attacks are part of a surrounding culture that finds such sentiments to be "normal" or "understandable"--or "true".
Betrayal is part of the darkness that has always threatened to engulf Jews. It is the "dark" part of Jewish existence that haunts both Jewish victims and their non-Jewish victimizers.
One can argue that America has turned on its President. Will it now turn against its Jews?
If you don't think this is possible, consider this: Donald Trump has too much of a Jew track record. He's supported the Jews too many time. He has, arguably, done more to help the Jewish State than any of his predecessors.
For example, he moved the US embassy to Jerusalem. He recognized the importance of Jewish sovereignty over Judea Samaria. He appointed Nikki Haley to the UN, and she--with Trump's approval--did what no past President has done: she defended Israel as no US UN Ambassador had ever done.
No other US President did so much for Jewish Israel. No one.
As things in America now stand, Joe Biden is scheduled to become the next US President on January 20, 2021. If that happens, will he build upon Trump's pro-Israel policies? Or, will he return to Obama's indifference and hostility?
A look at Biden's early appointments suggests that a Biden Administration will not bring to Washington many pro-Israel, or even pro-Jewish, ideas. Too many of Biden's appointments-to-date helped to craft some of Obama's most anti-Israel policies. Caroline Glick warns that these appointments will not bring less antisemitism to America. They will instead bring a new kind of Jew-hate to America (here).
Do you really believe these Obama-era appointees are eager to support a view of Jews and Israel that is kinder and gentler than Trump's view?
More concerning for America's Jews is the rise of Progressivism in America. As Glick has pointed out (in yet another article on this same topic), progressives in the US have already, in essence, consigned Jews to the political outhouse called, "being white" (here). To a Progressive, "being white" may not be the ultimate in racism. But if you are looking for a racist, some Progressives believe, you might want to start by talking first with a white person--any white person (here, here). This means that, to a Progressive, Jews become "the perfect nemesis" (ibid). In plain English, this means simply that Jews in a Democrat-run, Progressive America may well end up with a target painted on their collective back.
Jews are very close to being labelled with such a target. Therefore, December 2020 might be the perfect moment for each US Jew to ask a simple question: does Progressivism-combined-with-a-Biden-America contain a message I should be thinking about?
I don't see many US Jews asking such a question.
In my opinion, the incoming Biden Administration, along with such friends as Black Lives Matters and ultra-Liberal academic supporters, could be preparing to betray some of America's most cherished ideals. These include (but are not limited to) such democracy-related concepts as a free press and the freedoms of speech and religion. Does this suggest that America also prepares to betray its Jews, who so benefit from these particular freedoms?
Most US Jews will probably laugh--if not scoff--at such a thought. But do they scoff at their peril?
From Israel, it certainly looks like Jews in the US are 'whistling in the dark'. With more than 70% (according to some numbers) of US Jews having voted for Joe Biden, it would appear that US Jews truly believe they'll be just fine in a society led by a Biden administration. PersonalIy, I see that as a gross--and dangerous-- mistake.
What do you think? More important, what do you think US Jews should do?
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