‘It’s Upsetting!’ Jewish Podcaster Presses Nancy Pelosi on Antisemitism in Democratic Party

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) downplayed accusations of antisemitism in the Democratic Party as lifelong Democrat Donny Deutsch pressed her on what he called a “concerning” trend.

Pelosi joined Deutsch on his On Brand podcast on Thursday to discuss the midterms and more. At one point Deutsch, who is Jewish, laid out his growing problems with the party and the rise of politicians who are vocal critics of Israel.

Deutsch named Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as one of the politicians he’s concerned with, noting the candidate did not give a direct answer when asked if Iran or Israel pose a greater threat.

“What do you say to a lifelong Jew, a lifelong Democrat who is a Jew, who is saying, is this my party anymore?” Deutsch asked.

Deutsch called Pelosi a “great friend” to Israel and the former speaker of the House used her answer to talk up her support for Israel even amid her criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for valuing throwing “red meat” to voters over being a “statesman.”

Pelosi noted her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., a former congressman and mayor of Baltimore, was also a proud supporter of Israel. The country, she added, has “shared values” with the Unites States and deserves support.

Deutsch pressed Pelosi to answer the question more directly. He accused a “wing of the party” of abandoning Israel and said he sees “tones of antisemitism” rising among Democrats.

“It’s hard and sad and it’s upsetting to see so much of what’s going on in the Democratic Party as a Jewish man. It’s almost unbelievable, but I need you to respond to that as somebody who has been an Israel supporter,” he said.

“Well, I have more Jewish grandchildren than anybody in Congress so we talk about this at home,” Pelosi said.

She added that she doesn’t “know of anybody there on our side who is engaged in antisemitism.”

“That may be what it appears to be or what it’s charged to be, but if there are, it’s only a few. If there are. I think sometimes they say things that they shouldn’t and can be interpreted that way,” Pelosi said.

Deutsch went more specific by saying he believes it’s antisemitic to say you don’t believe in Israel as a Jewish state, naming El-Sayed and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) as his examples when pressed by Pelosi for names.

“It’s more than concerning, it’s wrong and it isn’t a reflection of the Democrats in the Congress of the United States,” Pelosi said, agreeing with Deutsch.

She continued, however, to downplay antisemitism in her party, saying El-Sayed has not been elected and throwing a “bless his heart” Mamdani’s way while hoping he succeeds as mayor.

“In terms of our people in the House of Representatives, if somebody says that, the other members disassociate themselves from it,” she said.

Watch above via On Brand with Donny Deutsch.

Jason Cohen contributed to this report.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!