New York Observer owner Jared Kushner published a first-person response today to an open letter on the paper’s website that criticized his support of father-in-law Donald Trump’s candidacy for president.
Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, started his response with the message, “My father-in-law is not an anti-Semite,” continuing, “It’s that simple, really. Donald Trump is not anti-Semitic and he’s not a racist.”
In her open letter, published yesterday, entertainment writer Dana Schwartz referenced what she called the “anti-Semitic imagery” of a meme tweeted by Trump over the weekend, which depicted presidential rival Hillary Clinton beside the words “Most Corrupt Candidate” superimposed on a six-pointed silhouette resembling a Star of David atop a background of $100 bills.
Though Trump claimed the symbol was a sheriff’s star, he deleted the tweet and republished the image with a circle instead.
“I read the Dana Schwartz piece that appeared on Observer.com. As always, there are thoughtful points but journalists, even those who work for me at the Observer, are not always right. While I respect her opinion, I want to show another side to explain why I disagree,” Kushner wrote. “In my opinion, accusations like “racist” and “anti-Semite” are being thrown around with a carelessness that risks rendering these words meaningless.”
Schwartz started ripping Kushner on Twitter almost immediately after the story published.
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/750754236108005376
Trump’s son-in-law goes on to detail his family’s roots including his grandparents, who are Holocaust survivors. Kushner also says that “journalists and Twitter throngs” who dismiss Trump don’t know him on a personal level. At one point, Kushner referenced legendary New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael: “I live in a rather special world. I only know one person who voted for Nixon. Where they are I don’t know. They’re outside my ken.”
Kushner then encouraged “Schwartz — and all reporters — to get out there and meet some of those people “outside their ken.”
Schwartz responded on Twitter, notifying her boss that she isn’t from New York.
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/750755661038882817
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/750773470825504768
Kushner went on to defend Trump’s feelings on Israel and express disgust at those who have attacked Schwartz for speaking up against her boss.
The publisher ended his response on a supportive note: “America faces serious challenges. A broken economy, terrorism, gaping trade deficits and an overall lack of confidence. Intolerance should be added to that list. I’m confident that my father in law, with his outstanding record of real results, will be successful tackling these challenges. That’s why I support him.”
Schwartz continues to respond via Twitter and re-tweet articles that mock Kushner’s stance.
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/750772678978576384
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/750771708727070720
https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/750757158736760832
Kushner has become increasingly involved with Trump’s campaign, having virtually become its unofficial manager. In addition to helping recruit a new director of communications, Kushner has drafted several of Trump’s policy speeches, led the creation of an online fundraising system for the campaign, and is aiding the candidate in selecting a running mate, according to the New York Times.
Read Schwartz’s original letter in full here.