Why did Trump meet members of an anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish group?
Why did Trump meet members of an anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish group? Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Fri, 09/04/2026 - 18:35 Critics of Israel lauded the meeting, highlighting inroads to be made given that many conservatives now question the US-Israel relationship Aaron Teitelbaum, the chief rabbi of the Satmar community in Kiryas Joel, New York, sits directly across from Donald Trump in White…
On September 3, 2026, President Donald Trump hosted a meeting with members of an anti-Zionist Orthodox Jewish group at the White House ahead of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. The group, consisting of rabbis and other representatives from Haredi Jewish communities in New York and New Jersey, had flown in for the occasion. The delegation included Satmar Rebbe Aaron Teitelbaum, a leading figure in Orthodox anti-Zionist circles who represents around 100,000 adherents.
The meeting, which took place just six weeks before Israeli elections and eight weeks before US midterm elections, aimed to express the group's objection to Zionism and address concerns about their community being targeted by the Israeli government due to the high number of young men being called for military service. Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance and New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, engaged in discussions with the delegation.
Critics of Israel praised the meeting, highlighting potential inroads to be made as many conservatives now question the US-Israel relationship. The White House official emphasized that this was the first gathering of these rabbis at the White House since 1979 and that the president prioritized accommodating the delegation's delays.
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