Chicago – March 24, 2025
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate, recently faced sharp criticism after President Trump accused him of being “a Palestinian” and claimed he was “no longer Jewish.” This came just days after Schumer supported a spending bill with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown. Progressives, unhappy with his decision, threatened to protest his upcoming book tour.
Schumer, who has been a public figure for many years, shared his experiences in his Brooklyn apartment, discussing his life and challenges. As the son of an exterminator, he attended Harvard University in 1967, where he became involved in antiwar politics but never adopted the extreme student radical mindset.
It was at Harvard where Schumer first witnessed left-wing antisemitism disguised as anti-Zionism. He recalls an incident in 1970 when students disrupted a speech by Israeli foreign minister Abba Eban, displaying a banner that read “Fight Zionist Imperialism.”
In his new book, Antisemitism in America: A Warning, Schumer dedicates a significant portion to addressing left-wing antisemitism, calling out public figures such as Representative Ilhan Omar for making antisemitic remarks. He also highlights troubling incidents, such as a UCLA rally where a protester yelled, “Beat that f****** Jew,” while a piñata of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was displayed.
Schumer’s book explores the challenges he has faced in navigating antisemitism from both the right and the left. He explains that Trump’s comment about his Jewishness reflects a long history of non-Jewish people attempting to decide who is truly Jewish.
