President Donald Trump has twice in less than two weeks branded Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer a “Palestinian senator” and claimed the Jewish New York Democrat has “abandoned the Jews.” Trump first used the description on 26 June while promoting the administration-backed “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” at the White House. “Guys like Schumer, our great Palestinian senator … he used to like Jewish people. Now he’s totally against Jewish people,” the president told supporters, drawing laughter from the audience. He revived the line on 8 July during remarks that followed Schumer’s criticism of the federal response to severe flooding in Texas. “I saw a Palestinian senator—his name is Schumer … his career is limited because I hear AOC is going to beat him,” Trump said, referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s possible primary challenge against the senator. Schumer, 74, is the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress and a longstanding supporter of Israel. He has not publicly responded to the president’s comments, which come amid widening partisan clashes over disaster aid, spending legislation and Middle East policy.