Trump dismisses ‘ridiculous’ Nazi salute claims
Donald Trump is defending a gesture he makes at his rallies at the request of supporters in which he raises his right hand that has been compared by some to the Nazi salute.
Speaking to US broadcaster NBC’s Today programme, Mr Trump called the accusations “ridiculous” and said his supporters call on him to make a gesture as if he is swearing in for the presidency.
“Until this call, I didn’t know it was a problem,” Mr Trump said. “Sometimes we’ll do it for fun.”
He continued: “Sometimes they’ll scream at me, ‘Do the swear-in, do the swear-in’.”
At the rally in Florida last week, Mr Trump raised his hand, with his elbow bent, and led the crowd in the oath.
“Can I have a pledge – a swearing? Raise your right hand,” Mr Trump said. “I do solemnly swear that I, no matter how I feel, no matter what the conditions of the hurricanes or whatever … will vote on or before the 12th for Donald J Trump for president.”
Florida’s Republican primary is March 15.
.@realDonaldTrump: Comparing my campaign pledge to Nazi salute is ‘crazy, I can’t believe that’s even being posed’ https://t.co/RQ6YgBSAyg
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) March 8, 2016
Mr Trump has faced past accusations that his rhetoric veers toward far-right nationalism or fascism.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto was the latest to compare the billionaire businessman to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini based on some of the rhetoric he uses on the campaign trail.
Asked about Mr Trump, Mr Pena Nieto complained to the Excelsior newspaper about “these strident expressions that seek to propose very simple solutions” and said that sort of language has led to “very fateful scenes in the history of humanity”.
“That’s the way Mussolini arrived and the way Hitler arrived,” Mr Pena Nieto said.
Mr Trump said he had not heard the comparisons to Hitler by Mr Pena Nieto and others but said “it’s a terrible comparison, I’m not happy about that certainly. I don’t want that comparison. But we have to be strong and we have to be vigilant”.
Mr Trump’s comments came ahead of primaries in Michigan, Mississippi and Idaho, and the Hawaii caucuses.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
