Understanding this moment

Smokescreen antisemitism is a strategy used by authoritarian and antidemocratic politicians and movements that has now been largely embraced (or at least legitimized) by the mainstream Right in America.

In a smokescreen antisemitism strategy, politicians and political movements use antisemitism to increase racialized fear and division to gain supporters and win elections. This is a key component of their power strategy, but it could lead to being branded an antisemite, which could become a political liability. So they also create confusion by pointing the finger at progressives, people of color, and Muslims for antisemitism while claiming to be the true defenders of Jews. Sometimes these accusations are completely false, and sometimes they are true or based on some truth. But smokescreen antisemitism accusations are always initiated with the intent to obscure the user’s own responsibility for using antisemitism for political gain. 

Smokescreen Antisemitism op-ed How Trump Uses Antisemitism Dismantling Antisemitism Message Guide