Donald Trump’s “intolerance towards everyone” fosters antisemitism and Islamophobia in the US amid heightened tensions surrounding the war between Israel and Hamas, as stated by Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor vying with Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
Christie told CNN on Sunday that “When you show intolerance towards everyone – which is what he does – you give permission as a leader for others to have their intolerance come out. Intolerance towards anyone encourages intolerance towards everyone. And that’s exactly what’s going on here.”
Like other Republican candidates, Christie trails far behind Trump in national and key state polling.
Despite having endorsed Trump in 2016 and supported him throughout his presidency, Christie turned against the former president over his election subversion and incitement of the January 6 attack on Congress.
Christie also critiqued Trump for contributing to surging bigotry across the US, saying, “He says what he says, without regard to the fact that he’s perceived as a leader and that his words matter. This, he said, meant bigots ‘think you’re giving them permission be a bigot and that’s even worse than them thinking you are one’.”
On Sunday, Christie indicated that Trump was not the only leader perpetuating intolerant behavior, pointing to tensions over the Israel-Hamas war on US college campuses and the lack of action from university administrators and presidents to combat antisemitism.
“University administrators and presidents … have been unwilling to stand up against antisemitism on their campuses,” Christie said.
Christie added, “There should be no campus in this country where a Jewish student is afraid to leave their dorm, a Jewish student is afraid to go to their classes, a Jewish student is afraid to go to even have a meal in the dining hall. I mean, that is outrageous, and it’s wrong. And so in the end … I think that there have been a lot of people contributed to it. And I believe Donald Trump’s intolerant language and his intolerant conduct gives others permission to act the same way.”
