Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville stirred controversy on Wednesday by asserting that wealthy Jewish donors are abandoning the Democratic Party not due to antisemitism, but rather for tax benefits. During a recent episode of his "Politics War Room" podcast, Carville expressed skepticism about claims from these donors regarding their motivations. "No, you just want your f---ing tax cut," he declared emphatically.

The discussion arose as co-host Al Hunt criticized former President Donald Trump for portraying himself as a supporter of Jewish interests. Hunt referred to a New York Times article that accused Trump of exacerbating antisemitism in the United States. Carville echoed this sentiment, labeling Trump a "complete fraud," but emphasized that the real issue lies with wealthy Jewish individuals who have shifted their financial support to Trump in the upcoming 2024 election.

Carville recounted conversations with affluent Jewish fundraisers who expressed their discontent with the Democratic Party. He quoted them saying, "Look James, I’m a Democrat, but I can’t be a part of the party because of what happened at Columbia." He questioned the relevance of these sentiments, asking, "What the f--- did the Democrats have to do with what happened in Columbia?"

Columbia University has recently been a focal point for anti-Israel protests, particularly following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This surge in anti-Israel sentiment, coupled with perceived indifference from some Democrats, has prompted certain Jewish figures to withdraw their financial support from the party and redirect it toward Trump’s campaign.

One notable example is Jacob Helberg, a tech expert who previously supported Democrats but has now donated over $1 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign. Helberg explained his change of heart, stating, "It became very clear that an organizing principle on the left increasingly became based on a divvying up of the world between oppressors and oppressed. It’s just an organizing principle that I fundamentally disagree with."

He further expressed concerns about the rise of antisemitic protests, saying, "You’re seeing that with these incredibly dark, antisemitic protests on university campuses, in the streets of Dearborn, Mich., and these slogans that are somehow gaining popular attraction."

Carville criticized the rationale behind the shift in donations, suggesting that wealthy Jewish donors like Helberg and Bill Ackman are primarily motivated by financial interests. He stated, "Most Jewish people see right through [Trump], but the ones that don’t see through it, they just don’t — at the end of the day, they just want their f---ing tax cut. And you can see it every day."

This commentary highlights the ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party regarding its relationship with Jewish voters and the impact of recent events on political donations.