Donald Trump (R) used the term "Palestinian" as an insult when referring to Chuck Schumer (L) on March 12, 2025.   (Photo by Getty Images)

Washington, March 14 (RHC)-- Muslim and Jewish civil rights groups have condemned President Donald Trump for using the word “Palestinian” as a slur when referring to Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer.

"He used to be Jewish.  He's not Jewish anymore, he's a Palestinian," Trump told reporters about Schumer who is the highest-ranking American Jewish official.   The remarks in a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House Wednesday sparked criticism from civil rights groups, which harshly condemned the racial slur.

"A President has many powers, but none of them include deciding who is and isn't Jewish.  Doing so, and using 'Palestinian' as a slur, are both beneath any (U.S. president)," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish group, wrote on X. 

The U.S. Muslim Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on Trump to apologize, saying his racist slur is both "offensive and beneath the dignity of his office."

Nihad Awad, who is the director of the council, said Trump's comments showed the "continuing dehumanization" of Palestinians.  The CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, Halie Soifer, called Trump’s statement “abhorrent”.

Earlier this week, Schumer opposed U.S. Republicans’ stopgap plan to avoid a government shutdown.  He has publicly criticized the Israeli regime’s conduct of war in Gaza and the infamous ethnic cleansing campaign against Palestinians.

Trump first called Schumer a “Palestinian” last month when the senator criticized the US president's plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza.  Trump had called Schumer a “proud member of Hamas” ahead of last year’s election.  He had also called Joe Biden a “Palestinian” during a presidential debate.

[ SOURCE: DEMOCRACY NOW ]