5 Feet of Fury

David Cole: Is Donald Trump the first Jewish President?

So David Cole had lunch with Ann Coulter at “one of Beverly Hills’ most revered Jewish delis,” and…

Ann shared a theory about why Trump has elicited so much irrational hatred from one particularly influential U.S. demographic group. And what she said hit me right in the gut. She’s never publicly written about this theory, but with her permission I’ll present it here.

Suffice it to say, it falls into the category of “Wish I’d said that.” (…)

Ann Coulter’s theory is that Jews dislike Trump because he reminds us too much of ourselves. More specifically, in style and manner he reminds us of the traits we’re most often ridiculed for. Trump is a loud, boorish New Yawker. He’s foulmouthed; he has no “indoor voice.” He’s clumsy when delicacy is called for; he gesticulates madly and almost certainly spits when he talks. He’s a slumlord, and a master manipulator of finance and bankruptcy law. And the strikingly beautiful women he surrounds himself with are most likely only there because of the money. Basically, he’s a Streicher cartoon without the Jewface. For Jews, gazing at Trump is like looking at a fun-house mirror reflection of the very worst anti-Semitic stereotypes. And Jews don’t want to see that in a president, because it makes us feel uncomfortable (we are, after all, a people known for our neuroses).

Ann’s theory hit me like a lightning bolt.