Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan Praises Trump For Standing Up to Jews

As Super Tuesday gets underway, GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has a new and perhaps unexpected fan: Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

Speaking during a sermon Sunday in Chicago, Farrakhan, who has blamed Jews for the 9/11 attacks, said he was a fan of Trump, “the only member who has stood in front of the Jewish community and said ‘I don’t want your money.’ Any time a man can say to those who control the politics of America, ‘I don’t want your money,’ that means you can’t control me. And they can’t afford to give up control of the presidents of the United States.”

Farrakhan fell short of endorsing Trump, “Not that I’m for Mr. Trump,” he said, then added, “but I like what I’m looking at.”

For good measure, he also called Jews the “Synagogue of Satan,” according to the the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors anti-Semitism. The ADL brought attention to the speech Monday evening.

Praise for Trump coming from Farrakhan is nothing short of ironic. It comes after David Duke, a white nationalist and former Klu Klux Klan grand wizard, said whites failing to vote for the real estate mogul would be “treason to your heritage.” So Trump has now won support from Duke, who advocates for separate white and black nations, and Farrakhan, who has called on African Americans to retaliate against what he considers white oppression.

Trump has already made controversial statements about Jews during his campaign. Speaking in December 2015 before prominent Jewish Republicans, the billionaire businessman said, “You’re not going to support me even though I’ll be the best guy for Israel.”

“I’m a negotiator like you folks,” Trump added, falling back to the stereotype that Jews are shrewd at business. “Is there anyone in this room who doesn’t negotiate deals? … Probably more than any room I’ve ever spoken.”

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