Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared yesterday that Israel has destroyed Iran's nuclear project in an operation he called "Lion's Den", hours after a ceasefire took effect and following a sharp diplomatic confrontation with US President Donald Trump. In a classified statement delivered to the media, Netanyahu claimed that "we removed two immediate existential threats" and that "the opening blow will be recorded in the annals of history".

The operation, which lasted 12 days according to the Prime Minister, included the elimination of senior command in Iran, destruction of central nuclear facilities, and extensive strikes throughout the country. Netanyahu claimed that "in one swift action we eliminated Iran's senior command, including three chiefs of staff and additional senior officials, eliminated the senior nuclear scientists who led the nuclear program and sought to bring destruction and death upon us".

The targets attacked included the enrichment facility at Natanz, the conversion facility at Isfahan, and the heavy water facility at Arak. Netanyahu noted that under Trump's guidance, the US military destroyed the facility at Fordow, while Israel simultaneously attacked "dozens of facilities including laboratories and centrifuge manufacturing plants." According to him, "we completed the mission and struck the entire archive, which concentrated all of Iran's knowledge for creating an atomic bomb".

The Prime Minister emphasized that the operation also eliminated Iran's missile threat. "Iran's intention to threaten Israel with thousands of ballistic missiles has been removed", he said, detailing that "we destroyed headquarters, attacked Revolutionary Guard bases, Basij bases, and attacked symbols of the regime". The heaviest blow was delivered "several hours before the ceasefire", when "we eliminated hundreds of regime operatives in the most devastating attack Tehran has seen in the last fifty years".

Despite the tense conversation with President Trump that occurred just hours before the statement, Netanyahu thanked him for assistance in the war. "I thank you on behalf of my friend President Trump and the United States for their part in defending Israel and removing Iran's nuclear threat", the Prime Minister said. "The United States' participation not only on the defensive side is a historic event, this has never happened before. Israel has never had a greater friend than Trump in the White House, and I thank him greatly for the joint work".

However, behind the expressions of appreciation, a sharp diplomatic confrontation between the two leaders was revealed. President Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran that took effect at seven in the morning, but two and a half hours later expressed dissatisfaction with both sides' behavior. "I'm not satisfied with both sides, and especially not with Israel", the President said before boarding Air Force One on his way to the NATO summit in the Netherlands. "Both countries violated the ceasefire. I didn't like that Israel discharged ammunition after declaring it".

The presidential criticism intensified on his social media platform, where Trump wrote: "Don't drop the bombs. If you do this, it's a serious violation. Bring your pilots home now". The President added that "Israel needs to calm down, I have to make it happen. I'll see if I can make this happen".

Sources in Washington and Jerusalem revealed that Trump conducted a tense conversation with Netanyahu, during which he physically stopped a planned Israeli attack in Tehran. Ultimately, Netanyahu convinced the American President to agree to only a symbolic response against an Iranian radar, and all Israeli aircraft that were defined by Trump as "friendly" turned around and returned home.

The ceasefire came after Iran fired missiles toward Israel that were successfully intercepted, leading the Chief of Staff and Defense Minister to announce their intention to respond. Trump refused to blame Iran for violating the ceasefire and criticized the Israeli response, despite the fact that the response ultimately amounted to a symbolic strike on a radar.

The Israeli government officially approved the ceasefire more than two hours after it took effect, stating that "Israel has removed a double immediate existential threat: both in the nuclear domain and in the ballistic missile domain". Despite the achievements claimed for the operation, Netanyahu emphasized that "we are not complacent or secure, quite the opposite", and referred to the Gaza arena where Hamas is still operating.

"We must defeat Hamas and free all the hostages", Netanyahu said. "To the families of the hostages I say we have not stopped for a moment, including during the war, our efforts to bring all our hostages home, and we will not relent from this sacred mission until it is completed".

Operation "Lion's Den" is described by the Prime Minister as a "historic victory" that will stand for generations, where "the opening blow will be recorded in the annals of Israel's wars and will be studied by all the world's armies". Netanyahu warned that if anyone tries to rehabilitate Iran's nuclear project, Israel will act "with the same determination and power to cut down any such attempt".

The diplomatic confrontation with Washington testifies to the tension inherent in the relationship, even when both leaders define each other as close friends. While Netanyahu speaks of Trump as "the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House", the American President expressed frustration with Israel's conduct even after the ceasefire, indicating the complications that could develop in the international arena following the operation.

Photo: In accordance with Section 27A

הפוסט Netanyahu: We Destroyed Iran's Nuclear Program הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced last night via his social media platform that a ceasefire had been achieved between Israel and Iran, promising an end to what he called the "12-day war". The announcement surprised the world as the Israeli Air Force continues to conduct extensive strikes in Tehran and across Iran, while Iran presents a contradictory position – on one hand denying a formal agreement and on the other signaling its intention to stop responses if Israel halts its attacks.

In a dramatic tweet published at night, Trump wrote: "I am happy to congratulate the courage and wisdom to end the '12-day war.'" According to him, a graduated framework was achieved whereby, if everything "goes well", an official declaration ending the war with Iran is expected to be received on Wednesday around 7:00 AM. Trump added: "This will last forever. A wonderful day for the world".

Following the announcement, it emerged that behind the scenes a complex diplomatic process had been conducted through Qatar's mediation. An official Reuters source revealed that Trump spoke with the Emir of Qatar and told him that Israel had agreed to the proposal, while Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in turn secured Iran's agreement. White House sources confirmed that Prime Minister Netanyahu approved the proposal in a conversation with Trump, with the central condition being the cessation of attacks by Iran.

The official Iranian response came in the early morning hours from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who explicitly denied the existence of a formal agreement. "As of now, there is no agreement, ceasefire, or halt to military operations", Araghchi wrote on social media. However, in the continuation of his statement he left a significant opening: "If the Israeli regime stops its aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4:00 Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response". Araghchi added that "the final decision on stopping our operations will be made later." It should be noted that the tweet was published after 4:00 in Iran, raising questions about the practical meaning of the ultimatum.

In support of the president's announcement, a senior Iranian official confirmed in a conversation with foreign media that Tehran had indeed agreed to the proposal, though he did not detail its exact conditions. The apparent contradiction between the minister's and the official's statements indicates internal disagreements in Iran's decision-making mechanism.

Parallel to the diplomatic announcements, the military reality continues to be turbulent. The Israeli Air Force conducted "heavy strikes" at noon on dozens of targets across Iran, with more than 50 fighter jets participating in the operation. The main focus was the extensive attack on Tehran, which included hitting Revolutionary Guard headquarters and strategic infrastructure. Among the prominent targets was also the entrance to the notorious "Evin" prison, where Iranian regime opponents are held.

An IDF spokesperson detailed that the wave of attacks targeted missile production sites, radars, and missile storage infrastructure in the Tehran area. The strikes are being carried out against the backdrop of Israeli preparations for possible barrages, with security forces at maximum alert level.

In Jerusalem, the narrow security cabinet convened in a bunker for an emergency discussion. Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed ministers not to comment on the matter until discussions were completed. Sources in the Prime Minister's Office refrained from any official reference to Trump's announcement, emphasizing that Israel would continue to act according to its security considerations.

In Washington, the American Vice President defined the "12-day war" as "an important reset for the entire region", emphasizing the strategic importance of the ceasefire agreement. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee welcomed the announcement in an emotional post, writing: "It's 3:00 AM in Israel, and I woke up to a phone call instead of a ballistic missile. President Trump announced wonderful news to the world about a ceasefire that will soon take effect – these 12 days felt like 12 years. The President didn't just 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem,' he delivered it".

Despite the diplomatic announcements, the civilian reality in Israel remained unchanged. The Home Front Command clarified that there was no change in guidelines for the public, and that people should continue to follow instructions given through official channels. Following the attacks, the IDF decided to tighten defense policy and move all areas of the country from partial and limited activity level to essential activity level at least until evening. The prohibition includes educational activities, gatherings, and conducting activities in workplaces, except for vital economy.

The tension between diplomatic announcements and military reality continues to cast a shadow over the implementation of the ceasefire. While Trump promises "a wonderful day for the world", Israeli attacks continue and Iran maintains deliberate ambiguity regarding its future response. The coming hours are expected to determine whether an agreement is indeed crystallizing that will bring an end to tensions, or whether this is a temporary respite in what could become a longer war.

Photo: AP

הפוסט Trump: Netanyahu and Iran Agreed to Ceasefire – Attacks Continue הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

Against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine, G7 heads of state convened today for an extraordinary summit in the town of Kananaskis in Canada's Alberta province. The summit, taking place amid sharp disagreements between President Trump and his European allies, focused on the Iranian issue and the international response to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at the summit directly from a high-profile diplomatic visit to Greenland, where he met with the Prime Minister of Denmark and the Prime Minister of Greenland. The visit, perceived as a calculated diplomatic move, was intended to express the highest-level support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Arctic island. Moreover, the visit is seen as a clear and immediate message to President Trump, who has previously expressed considerable interest in purchasing Greenland and has not even ruled out the use of military force to achieve this goal, despite the island being under Danish sovereignty—a US ally.

Tensions between Trump and the European Union manifest across a range of key issues. Europeans are pushing for a tougher stance toward Russia in light of its refusal to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, and are interested in advancing another round of sanctions that would include a further reduction in the Russian oil price cap. This move is designed to prevent Russia from benefiting from rising global oil prices, which have surged following the fighting between Israel and Iran and are now bringing enormous revenues into the Russian state coffers.

President Trump illustrated the depth of disagreement with Europe regarding relations with Russia when he criticized the G8's decision to expel Russia from the organization following the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014. During the discussions, Trump said: "That was a big mistake. You wouldn't have had this war. Putin talks to me, he doesn't talk to anyone else because he got insulted when he was thrown out of the G8". Trump's words, perceived as a defense of the Russian president, underscore the gap between his position and that of European allies, who view Russia's expulsion from the organization as a necessary step in punishing violations of international law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to arrive in Canada tomorrow as a guest of honor, and he will meet with Trump and the other leaders. Zelensky's arrival is expected to add another dimension to the discussions, particularly given the different positions regarding the desired approach to confronting Russian aggression.

However, the war between Israel and Iran is what stands at the central focus of the discussions. G7 leaders drafted a declaration clearly stating that Israel has the full right to defend itself and that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. The declaration, intended to reflect a unified Western position on the Middle Eastern crisis, encountered unexpected opposition from President Trump, who refused to sign the proposed text.

Trump's opposition to the declaration carries broad diplomatic significance, particularly given that Israel is considered a key ally of the United States in the Middle East. The refusal raises questions about the American president's position regarding handling the Iranian crisis and could complicate the West's ability to form a united front against Iran.

The tariff storm initiated by Trump adds another layer of complexity to the discussions. The tariffs, which impose economic pressure on European allies, exacerbate the diplomatic climate and make it difficult to reach agreements on other issues. The combination of economic tensions with disagreements on security matters creates a significant challenge for summit organizers.

The Kananaskis summit exposes the depth of cracks in the Western front during this critical period. While the world faces multiple crises—from the war in Ukraine to tensions in the Middle East—the difficulty of reaching agreements among allies casts a heavy shadow over the West's ability to lead a coordinated and effective response to the security challenges of our time.

Why Didn’t Trump Sign?

According to messages from the G7 summit, it appears that the original statement or its wording is inaccurate. The G7 countries expressed their desire for President Trump to sign a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, but the President refused to comply with the demand, left the summit prematurely, and returned to Washington.

Photo: AP & NEWS 18

הפוסט Trump Refuses to Sign G7 Declaration הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

Billionaire Elon Musk announced last night (between Wednesday and Thursday) his departure from President Donald Trump's administration, in a surprising move that ends a short but turbulent chapter in the political career of the world's most prominent businessman. The announcement came via a tweet on X (Twitter), which he owns, as he thanked the president for choosing him for the position of head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

In his statement, Musk wrote that the role of the Department of Government Efficiency "is only expected to strengthen over time", emphasizing the importance of efficiency as a "way of life in government". Despite the seemingly positive rationale, the decision raises questions about the real circumstances behind the surprising separation.

According to a Reuters news agency report, Musk did not meet with President Trump personally before making his decision to leave. This fact deepens the mystery surrounding the separation and raises questions about the processes that led to the dramatic decision.

Musk's appointment as head of the Department of Government Efficiency was seen as a revolutionary step by the Trump administration, indicating the desire to integrate the billionaire's business experience with the goal of streamlining the federal government apparatus. Musk, known for leading Tesla and SpaceX companies, is considered one of the world's leading technology entrepreneurs and has significant influence on capital and technology markets.

Musk's departure comes at a time when the Trump administration is facing numerous challenges on both political and economic fronts. The Department of Government Efficiency, which was supposed to serve as a central tool in the administration's planned reforms, now remains without a permanent leader.

The announcement was published on X, the social platform that Musk purchased in 2022 for $44 billion and renamed from Twitter. The choice to publish the announcement through his own social network continues the pattern of direct communication with the public that Musk has adopted.

The departure of one of the president's prominent associates represents a test for the stability of the Trump administration and may affect perceptions of technology and innovation investments in government. The central question now concerns the identity of Musk's replacement and the direction the Department of Government Efficiency will take moving forward.

Note: The announcement of departure on social media, without a prior meeting with the president or official coordination, is seen as a public humiliation of Trump – Musk chose to announce his resignation in a unilateral and humiliating manner.

Photo: AP

הפוסט Musk Leaves Trump Without Personal Meeting הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

Trump has significantly escalated his threats in recent days, promising that if a new nuclear agreement isn't reached, Iran will experience bombings "like it has never seen before". Tehran responded to the letter Trump sent to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by refusing direct negotiations with the U.S. as long as sanctions remain in place, but expressed willingness for indirect talks through a third-party mediator. According to a report yesterday on Sky News Arabic, Oman will serve as that mediator.

Trump himself declared last night that he prefers direct talks: "I think it goes faster, and you understand the other side much better than using intermediaries". Without explaining his statement, he claimed he "knows" that Iran does want direct negotiations, despite its public declarations to the contrary.

Against this backdrop, The Wall Street Journal reported at noon that the Trump administration intends to pressure Iran into direct talks. A senior American official told the newspaper that Washington wants to avoid indirect negotiations through "intermediaries on different floors of the same hotel passing messages back and forth". Such negotiations, the source said, could drag on for months or even years.

In the background, Iran continues to enrich uranium to 60% purity, very close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons. There are also concerns that Iran is secretly working on shortening the path to developing other components of an operational nuclear warhead should it decide to break out toward a bomb. According to reports, Trump set a two-month deadline in his letter to Khamenei, but it remains unclear when exactly the countdown begins from his perspective: from the moment the letter was sent, or from the start of negotiations.

Either way, according to today's report, the U.S. goal in future negotiations with Iran is quite ambitious: The senior official told The Wall Street Journal that the objective is complete dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program. This contrasts with the 2015 agreement that Trump withdrew from three years later, which only imposed restrictions – albeit significant but many of them temporary rather than permanent – on Iran's ability to enrich uranium. Iran has been violating those restrictions since the U.S. withdrawal from the collapsed deal.

Trump's National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, has already declared that the administration's goal is to dismantle all aspects of Iran's nuclear program – uranium enrichment, accumulation of strategic ballistic missiles, and the ability to develop nuclear weapons. These are dramatic demands that will very likely make future negotiations extremely complicated, if not impossible. Iran consistently insists on its right to enrich uranium, ostensibly for civilian purposes, and also opposes any agreement that would limit its missile program. If Iran maintains these red lines, Trump may need to decide between carrying out his threats or "blinking" in the face of Tehran.

Meanwhile, he is backing up these threats with significant force reinforcement. The U.S. has not officially confirmed reports of the B-2 bombers being transferred to Diego Garcia, which is controlled by Britain and leased by the U.S., but has announced the strengthening of its air and naval forces in the region. Satellite images from Sunday initially showed four B-2 bombers parked at the island base, and in new images from Wednesday, their number had increased to six.

100 Meters Underground: Is the "Mother of All Bunker Busters" Still Effective?

This represents a significant show of force by the U.S., which has a total of only 19 bombers of this strategic type, developed in the 1990s at an astronomical cost of $1.1 billion per aircraft (with inflation since then, in today's terms that's about $2 billion per aircraft). The B-2 "Spirit" is a heavy bomber with stealth capabilities, and one of the goals in its development was to expand America's nuclear deterrence – since it can penetrate deep into enemy territory without being detected by radar systems.

The bombers, capable of carrying payloads of up to 18 tons and flying without refueling for distances up to 11,000 kilometers, are also used for conventional purposes, and the U.S. already employed them last year in strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. However, they are used sparingly, often only to send messages to rivals and enemies. Their transfer to an area near Iran constitutes a clear message, as they are currently the only aircraft in the U.S. military designed to carry the massive MOP bomb (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), also known by the code name GBU-57 – a 12.3-ton bomb developed with one central purpose: the ability to strike Iran's underground nuclear facilities.

The development of this bomb began in the first decade of the 2000s, and it is the most powerful non-nuclear "bunker buster," estimated by the U.S. Air Force to be capable of penetrating to depths of about 60 meters. It contains "only" about 2.4 tons of explosives, with most of the weight coming from its armored casing – allowing it to penetrate deep into the ground and "dig" through rocks, soil, and reinforced concrete. The GBU-57 is even heavier than the MOAB, the "Mother of All Bombs", which weighs about 10 tons, but since the latter is not designed to penetrate the ground, it contains a larger amount of explosives.

It has been previously reported that the GBU-57, which has never been used operationally, was developed specifically to enable strikes against the nuclear facility in Fordow, which according to reports was dug into a mountainside at a depth of about 80 to 90 meters underground. In 2022, it was revealed that Iran is building a new underground facility in Natanz at the same depth or possibly even deeper, between 80 to 100 meters. Reports about the excavation of that site raised questions about the effectiveness of using the bunker buster against it, but according to an AP report from about two years ago, American officials discussed dropping two such bombs in succession to ensure the destruction of the site.

The Expulsion from the Strategic Island, and Tehran's Threats: "We Can Reach Any Base"

The six bombers sent to Diego Garcia constitute one-third of the U.S. military's B-2 fleet, and military aviation expert Peter Layton estimated in a conversation with CNN that this essentially represents all the available bombers of this type. "I assume there are one or two at the home base for training and a few more standing by in case of need for nuclear deterrence. The others are in maintenance", said Layton, a former fighter pilot in the Australian Air Force. "Six is a significant number", he noted, emphasizing that if these bombers were intended solely for strikes against underground facilities of the Houthis – as part of the extensive operation the U.S. is currently conducting against Iran's proxies in Yemen – two or three would have sufficed. According to him, transferring six such bombers to the region already constitutes a "dramatic effort", with the message clearly directed at Iran itself.

Diego Garcia Island is located about 3,900 kilometers from Iran's southern shores, but the B-2 has a flight range of 11,000 kilometers, and satellite images distributed this week also showed KC-135 refueling aircraft at Diego Garcia. Tehran has clearly understood the message, and in recent days more and more threats against the base have been heard from Iran. According to the British Telegraph, there are now calls there for a preemptive strike against the base. "Discussions about the island have intensified since the Americans stationed bombers there. The response to Trump's threats should come in action – not words. Every base in the region is within range of our missiles", a senior Iranian official told the newspaper.

In another Telegraph report, an Iranian source promised that any American attack on his country would be met with an attack against the American-British base in Diego Garcia. "There will be no distinction between British forces or American forces if Iran is attacked, from any base in the region or within range of its missiles", the source said. Iranian media has also threatened to strike the island with ballistic missiles and Shahed 136-B suicide drones, which allegedly have a range of 4,000 kilometers, in response to any "hostile action" by the U.S.

Diego Garcia is indeed a tiny island – only 30 square kilometers – but it is the largest among the 60 islands that make up the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean. Since the 1970s, the island has hosted a strategic air base that the U.S. leases from Britain, with the current agreement between them continuing at least until 2036. About 2,500 crew members live at the base, mostly Americans with only a minority of Britons, and it has strategic importance for U.S. operations in the region. It greatly assisted the U.S. in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and it has been reported that the CIA also operated "black sites" there – the secret, unofficial facilities that the American intelligence agency established outside U.S. borders where terrorism suspects were tortured.

Right now, the fate of Diego Garcia and the other Chagos Islands is at the center of negotiations between the British government and the government of Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean that claims sovereignty over them. Mauritius, which was also a British colony in the past, has been demanding ownership of the islands that were separated from it by London in 1965. About 2,000 original inhabitants of the islands, descendants of slaves from Africa who were brought there by the French in the late 18th century to establish a coconut processing factory, were expelled by the British to allow the U.S. to establish the strategic base in Diego Garcia.

The UN Decision that Britain Violated, and Israeli Support

Britain did purchase the islands from Mauritius for a paltry sum of 3 million pounds, but Mauritius argues that it was effectively forced to give up sovereignty over them in exchange for receiving its independence in 1968. Many of the displaced people and their children now live in Mauritius, having waged a years-long struggle to return to the Chagos Islands. In 2019, Britain suffered a blow in its attempt to maintain control over them: the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that the separation of the islands from Mauritius was illegal.

Following that decision, in the same year, 116 countries voted in favor of a non-binding resolution introduced in the UN General Assembly by African nations, stating that Britain should "withdraw its colonial administration" from the Chagos Islands within six months. Only six countries, including Britain, the U.S., and Israel, voted against. The Israeli delegation explained its vote by saying that the matter should be resolved between Britain and Mauritius. Britain did not meet the non-binding deadline set for returning control of the islands, but in recent years has been negotiating the terms of their return.

In October last year, the Labour government led by Keir Starmer announced an agreement in principle between the parties, under which Britain would transfer control of the islands to Mauritius and lease Diego Garcia for a period of at least 99 years – with the possibility of an extension for an additional 40 years – to allow the continued operation of the base on the island. Following Trump's victory in the U.S. elections, the signing of the agreement was delayed, and several senior officials in Washington criticized it harshly. Marco Rubio, then a senator and now Trump's Secretary of State, said last year that the emerging agreement posed a "serious threat" to U.S. national security.

However, Trump himself recently signaled that he would accept the agreement, and when he met with Starmer in February, he said: "They're talking about a very long-term lease, a very strong lease, for 140 years actually. That's a long time." This week, Starmer's spokesman updated that the agreement is in its final stages before being submitted for approval to the London Parliament.

But now criticism is being heard in the United Kingdom about the agreement, under which London will essentially have to pay to lease an island where a predominantly American base operates. Starmer's government has not disclosed how much it will pay under the agreement, but according to reports in the British press, the amount in question is 90 million pounds ($117 million) per year. "It's like transferring your house to someone else, and then paying to rent it", said Priti Patel of the Conservative Party, who serves as Foreign Secretary in the opposition's "shadow government". "This deal is simply madness".

The criticism intensified this week following the tariffs Trump imposed on all countries of the world, with Britain receiving the minimum rate of 10%. "We aren't using the island ourselves, so isn't it reasonable to demand that the rent be paid in full by those who are using it?". British commentator Paul Nuki wrote in a column. "And if the tenant continues to be the U.S., isn't it reasonable to demand that its president treat us fairly in trade, and completely remove the ridiculous tariffs on British goods?".

הפוסט Bomber Island: Trump's Secret Weapon Against Iran הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.

How can a father who supported Nazis and antisemites have a son who "loves" Jews?

In fact, Donald Trump's father, Fred Trump, was known for his hatred toward Jews and Blacks, and his views paralleled those of Adolf Hitler. The family business did not employ Jews or Blacks. Furthermore, Fred Trump was an active member of the racist Ku Klux Klan movement, a group considered distinctly Nazi-aligned.

Many believe that Donald Trump identifies with Jews and Blacks, but the essential question is whether the apple has truly fallen far from the tree or rather close to it? It is reasonable to assume that the apple has not fallen far from the tree. Several years ago, Trump was documented making racist remarks about Barack Obama, even claiming that a Black person is not worthy of being president of the United States.

Family Legacy and Early Business Career

Donald Trump's family background has been thoroughly investigated in the American media. Fred Trump, Donald's father, established a real estate empire in New York in the 1940s and 1950s. The E. Trump & Son company focused on building housing in neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn. The company's employment practices and rental policies were the subject of criticism and accusations of discrimination.

In 1973, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Trump's company alleging discrimination against African Americans in rental housing. The lawsuit, filed under the Fair Housing Act, claimed that the company refused to rent apartments to Black people and discriminated in rental terms based on race. The parties eventually reached a settlement agreement, without an admission of guilt by Trump's company, which included a commitment to change rental policies.

The allegations regarding connections to racist organizations are based on various media reports. In 1927, the New York Times reported on the arrest of a man named Fred Trump following confrontations at a Ku Klux Klan event in Queens. However, it has not been conclusively proven that this was Donald Trump's father or to what extent he was involved in the organization itself.

Donald Trump's family heritage also includes his grandfather, Friedrich Trump, who immigrated from Germany to the U.S. in the late 19th century. In his book "The Art of the Deal," Trump emphasized his pride in his German family heritage but avoided addressing allegations of racial discrimination by his father. We will return to this issue in greater detail later and delve into the particulars.

Racism against the African-American population continued into the 21st century

A Black president? In the eyes of supporters of the racist "Birther" movement (whose supporters believe Obama was born outside the U.S. and therefore was not eligible to serve as president), this was inconceivable. Donald Trump was for a long time an enthusiastic supporter of this conspiracy theory: Obama was not born in the U.S., but in Kenya, and he is Muslim.

Trump's involvement in the "Birther" movement began in 2011, when he started publicly raising doubts about Barack Obama's birthplace. In an interview with ABC that year, Trump asked, "Why doesn't he show us his birth certificate?" This question marked the beginning of his public involvement in the issue, which continued for years.

In August 2012, at the height of the presidential race between Obama and Mitt Romney, Trump wrote on his Twitter account: "A highly reliable source called my office and reported that Barack Obama's birth certificate is a forgery." He continued to spread the claim even after the White House released Obama's original birth certificate.

Many saw this campaign as an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of the first Black president in the U.S. The focus on the question of Obama's birthplace was perceived as a disguise for racism, especially given that similar questions were not raised about previous white presidents.

In September 2016, in the midst of the presidential race, Trump suddenly changed his position and declared: "President Obama was born in the United States. Period." He did not apologize for his previous claims, and even tried to blame Hillary Clinton for starting the rumors.

Statements on Immigrants, Muslims, and Ethnic Groups

The 2016 presidential campaign was characterized by a series of controversial statements by Trump toward various minority groups. In June 2015, in his candidacy announcement speech, he referred to immigrants from Mexico as follows: "Mexico is not sending their best. They're sending people that have lots of problems. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people".

This statement caused a public uproar and even led many companies to sever their business ties with Trump. But instead of apologizing, he continued to promote the idea of building a wall on the border with Mexico, which became a central symbol in his campaign.

Trump also made harsh statements toward Muslims. In December 2015, he issued a statement calling for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on". Shortly thereafter, in March 2016, he said in an interview with CNN: "I think Islam hates us".

Referring to the September 11, 2001 attacks, Trump claimed in 2015: "I was told that large parts of the Arab community in New Jersey celebrated when the Twin Towers collapsed". This claim was later refuted by law enforcement and the media.

A public controversy was also sparked by his response to a speech given by Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim American soldier killed in combat in Iraq. Khan, a lawyer of Pakistani origin, strongly criticized Trump's immigration policy at the Democratic Party convention, while his wife Ghazala stood silently by his side. Trump responded: "You had to see his wife! She didn't say a word. Maybe, as a Muslim, she's not even allowed to speak!"

Trump's appointments indicate antisemitism (whether openly or in a disguised way)

Throughout his tenure as president, and after the 2024 elections, Trump made appointments that sparked public controversy over issues of racism and antisemitism.

One of the first and most controversial appointments was that of Steve Bannon as chief strategist in the White House. Bannon, a former U.S. Navy officer, had previously managed the Breitbart News website, which he himself defined as a "platform for the alt-right" – a group that many critics link to white nationalist movements. The appointment was seen by Trump's critics as a sign of his willingness to legitimize extreme views.

Toward the end of his first term, Trump made several controversial appointments, and an additional series of appointments after his victory in the 2024 elections. Among the appointments that drew criticism was that of filmmaker Mel Gibson to the position of "special envoy" to Hollywood. Gibson is known for his past antisemitic statements, including the claim that "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" – a statement he made when arrested in 2006 for drunk driving.

In an event that caused an uproar in December 2022, Trump hosted rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Nick Fuentes, an avowed Holocaust denier, at Mar-a-Lago, his home in Florida. The dinner took place shortly after West lost many contracts due to antisemitic statements, including praise for Adolf Hitler. In a conversation with journalists after the event, Trump described West as "really a good guy" with a "good heart," and claimed he did not know about Fuentes' presence.

In December 2024, after his election victory, Trump announced the appointment of former Congressman Matt Gaetz to the position of Attorney General. Gaetz is known for his opposition to legislation aimed at combating antisemitism, and has previously expressed views perceived as antisemitic, including repeating the false claim that "Jews killed Jesus". The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) attacked the appointment and recalled that Gaetz had even invited Holocaust denier Charles Carlyle Johnson to the State of the Union address in 2018.

In January 2025, the invitation of Imam Husham al-Husseini to participate in the presidential inauguration ceremony sparked additional criticism. Al-Husseini, a representative of the Iraqi community in Dearborn, Michigan, is known for anti-Israel statements. In the past, he claimed that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization, and participated in a support rally for the organization in Dearborn, where he took the stage with a picture of Nasrallah.

We must not ignore the figure of Elon Musk, a man who shows an excessive fondness for Nazi ideology (from his connections with neo-Nazi circles to his unfair behavior in computer games). Elon Musk is a dangerous and pitiful personality.

The hand gesture that raises questions – a Nazi symbol in every sense, without any doubt "unrestrained excessive enthusiasm that should not be interpreted as you think" – performed by Musk caused many echoes in early 2025, but in this case the technology entrepreneur and Trump associate enjoyed the presumption of innocence. Such is the inner circle of Trump in 2025.

Positions on Israel and Jews

Against the backdrop of allegations of antisemitism, it is also important to examine Trump's positions toward Israel and his relationships with the Jewish community in the U.S.

Trump presented himself as "the most pro-Israel president in history". Among the significant initiatives he promoted: recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the U.S. embassy there, recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and the formulation of the "Deal of the Century" for peace in the Middle East – a plan that was perceived as favoring Israel.

In addition, he led the signing of the "Abraham Accords" – normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. These moves earned him significant support from the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.

However, his relationships with the American Jewish community were more complex. While he received support from Orthodox and right-wing groups, the majority of American Jews, who tend toward liberalism, voted against him in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

On several occasions, Trump expressed himself in ways that sparked controversy within the Jewish community. In August 2019, referring to American Jews who vote for Democrats, he said: "I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty." The claim about "disloyalty" echoed an old antisemitic trope about Jews' "dual loyalty".

At a meeting with Jewish donors in April 2019, Trump referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "your prime minister", a statement perceived as implying that American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the U.S.

The complexity of relations with the Jewish community was also reflected in his response to the events of October 2018, when an antisemitic attacker killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh – the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history. Trump condemned the event but was criticized by some members of the local community when he visited the site.

Fred Trump's racism over the years

According to an article published in the New York Times on June 1, 1927, a person bearing the name and address of Donald Trump's father was brought to trial following an incident in which members of the Ku Klux Klan attacked police officers at a rally held on Memorial Day in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens.

In the article published in the New York Times, it is stated that Fred Trump, residing at 175-24 Devonshire Road, was among seven people arrested at the rally for assaulting police officers during the parade. However, his case was closed during the legal proceedings.

Following the arrests, the Klan distributed flyers throughout Queens, protesting against the New York Police under the heading: "Americans beaten by New York's Catholic police!".

The flyers condemned what they called "American Protestants suffering from tuberculosis", who were injured and beaten with clubs while trying to stand up for their rights in their country.

In 1973, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Fred Trump and Donald Trump for refusing to rent apartments to African Americans in properties under their management, in their capacities as CEO and president of Trump Management, respectively. A later investigation by the New York Times revealed "a long history of racial discrimination" in the Trump family company's properties. Long before that, folk singer Woody Guthrie had condemned Fred Trump through his songs, and even dedicated a song to the issue of discrimination against African Americans in a property in Coney Island where Guthrie himself lived.

As for Fred Trump's presence at the Klan parade on Memorial Day, it is a historical fact, and in 1927, when Trump was a millionaire, he refrained from suing the New York Times, since everyone knew that he supported Nazi ideology and it was no secret, and he also did not know that Donald would be the president of the U.S. in the 21st century, and that in the modern era being racist is shameful.

Racist supporters of Nazism from Germany: The Trump family

Fred Trump was born on October 11, 1905, in the Bronx, to a family of German immigrants from the Kingdom of Bavaria, Friedrich Trump and his wife Elizabeth. His parents spoke German. He grew up alongside his brother John and sister Elizabeth.

In September 1908, the family moved to New York. From the age of 10, he served as a messenger in a meat market.

Between 1918 and 1923, Fred received his education at Richmond Hill High School in the neighborhood of the same name in Queens. During his studies, he worked in deliveries and shipping. His mother was involved in real estate, continuing his father's business. Fred aspired to be a contractor, and took evening classes in carpentry and blueprint reading. He also expanded his knowledge independently in plumbing, construction, and electricity.

Upon completing his studies in January 1923, Fred found full-time employment and specialized in transporting building materials to construction sites. Later, he was accepted as a carpenter's assistant and continued his studies at the Pratt Institute.

Fred's mother lent him $800 to build his first house, which was completed in 1924. Elizabeth Trump managed the business under her name since Fred had not yet reached the legal age. The company "E. Trump & Son" was founded in 1925 and began operations in 1926. That year, Fred built 20 houses in Queens, selling some before completion to finance the remaining properties. The company was officially registered in 1927.

Later, Fred became a partner in his mother's construction company, "E. Trump & Son".

In the late 1920s, Fred began building single-family homes in Queens, New York. During that period, he avoided building houses for Black people (as was later discovered, this went against his principles).

In 1922, Fred Trump joined the neo-Nazi movement of the Ku Klux Klan, which called for the murder of Jews and Blacks.

In 1927, more than a thousand Ku Klux Klan members marched in a parade in Queens. Fred and six other men were arrested. Fred was arrested "for refusing to disperse as ordered." Many newspaper articles mentioning the incident noted Trump's residential address (Jamaica, New York), which he shared with his mother according to the 1930 census.

In 1934, Fred, along with two partners, purchased a mortgage loan service company through the federal court. The company quickly went bankrupt and was dissolved due to fraud allegations. Subsequently, Fred obtained information about many properties facing acquisition, which he purchased at reduced prices and sold for significant profit. This business strategy made him one of the most successful entrepreneurs in New York.

By 1936, Fred employed 400 workers, all white but from different countries of origin (he did not employ Blacks or Jews). They laid foundations for houses priced between $3,000 and $6,250. Property prices stood at $3,999.99.

With the outbreak of World War II, Fred moved his family to Virginia. During the war and until the 1980s, Fred denied speaking German and claimed his origin was Swedish. According to his nephew, John Walter, "he had many Jewish tenants, and in those days being German was not to his advantage." Donald Trump, in his book "The Art of the Deal" (1987), claims that Fred was the son of an immigrant from Sweden and was born in New Jersey, but in fact, he was of German descent from both his mother's and father's sides, as is Donald Trump himself.

Regarding his religious belief, Fred was Lutheran.

Ku Klux Klan: Antisemitism and racist sentiments in the American state

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is one of the most well-known and documented organizations in American history as an organization of hatred and racism. With a focus on white supremacy, the organization advocated against the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, especially against African Americans, Jews, Catholics, Muslims, and other peoples. This movement not only fostered racism on an ethnic basis but also included prominent antisemitic components, expressed both in hatred toward Jews and in conducting actions against populations from Eastern Europe.

The Ku Klux Klan – Its Roots and Connection to Antisemitism

The Ku Klux Klan was first established in 1865 in the southern United States after the American Civil War. The organization was intended to preserve white supremacy and prevent civil and voting rights for African Americans. However, over time, the organization's purpose changed, and it began to adopt additional racist ideologies that had an antisemitic, anti-Catholic, and anti-immigrant character.

The second incarnation of the organization, in the 1920s, was related to a period of racial and religious tensions in the United States. The film "The Birth of a Nation" (1915), which marked the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in its new version, reflected the organization's worldview, which included anti-Jewish sentiments. Antisemitic images were present in the Klan's campaigns, focusing on spreading hatred toward Jews and Jewish business owners. The organization claimed that Jews were a threatening factor to the "American order" and saw them as responsible for many of the social and political problems of the time.

The Klan's Actions Against Jews

During the period between World War I and the 1930s, the Ku Klux Klan described Jews as "worse" than African Americans, because they were an immigrant stream that came from countries with different religions and other traditions. The organization saw Jews not only as a racial minority group but also as enemies of the Christian faith, thus finding itself fighting a dual battle – both against Jewish immigrants and against what appeared to be "religious anarchy." Jews, for their part, were targets of intense hatred.

In 1920, a large-scale demonstration by Klan members took place in New York City, during which antisemitic posters were distributed. The call was to support the halt of Eastern European immigration, including Jews. This struggle, which was also expressed in hatred toward anyone who was not American in spirit, created severe hostile feelings toward Jews.

In 1924, when the organization influenced United States immigration policy, its supporters tried to persuade the government to impose more severe restrictions on Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe. These efforts were also perceived as an attempt to cleanse the country of foreign populations, which were already considered dangerous to American society by Klan members.

The Connection with Worldwide Antisemitism

Although the Ku Klux Klan operated within the United States, the antisemitism it spread was part of a broader global trend. The racial and religious tension in the United States in the 1920s was directly influenced by the spread of antisemitism in Europe, especially by the spread of anti-Jewish ideas propagated by totalitarian regimes like that of Nazi Germany.

The antisemitic press distributed by the Klan included calls for harsh treatment of Jews. Klan members shared these feelings, and the dissemination of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" – an antisemitic document that invented the idea of a Jewish world conspiracy – served as a prime example of the influence of external influences of Jews on the world of politics and society.

The Klan and Antisemitic Violence

The Ku Klux Klan did not content itself with spreading hatred and feelings of fear toward Jews but also carried out violent actions against them. Over the years, there were cases where Klan members physically attacked Jews, also on the ideological basis of "defending" America from foreign influences. The violent acts against Jews, along with other actions taken against minorities, were part of the organization's broader plan to deny the rights of all who were perceived as other.

Between 1915 and 1930, several violent events took place involving Klan members, including lynchings that beat people of Jewish origin, especially in cases related to crimes committed by Jews. There were also cases where Klan members used intimidation and violence to maintain their positions against the spread of foreign influences, including Jewish influences.

The Antisemitic Legacy of the Klan

The Ku Klux Klan not only stood at the forefront of racist violence in the country but was also party to antisemitic struggles from which many Jews suffered throughout history. The antisemitism that was not only part of the hatred toward minorities but also an aspect of preserving the "purity of American blood," continued to shape the roles of the organization and still continued in various ways. Even today, in a reduced form, the racism and antisemitism of the Klan remain part of the dubious legacy of the organization.

Photos: Social networks, Wikipedia, REUTERS, Mike Segar, pursuant to Section 27A

הפוסט From Racist Father to the President's Son: The Apple and the Tree הופיע לראשונה ב-מעקב.