MTG says she can't be antisemite because Jesus was 'a Jewish carpenter': report

Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has devoted an entire chapter of her new book to her infamous 2018 Facebook post where she insinuated that wildfires in California were caused by "lasers of blue beams of light" that were shot from space, The Forward reported.

But Greene's book, titled MTG and due out Tuesday, refutes accusations that her claim, referred to by her critics as the "Jewish space lasers" conspiracy, is antisemitic.

Greene's book dedicates a whole chapter on the topic, and reiterates statements she previously made in which she points out that she never actually used the term "Jewish space lasers."

She used (unknowingly, according to her) actual antisemitic tropes while pushing an unproven claim about light beams from space had started wildfires in California. She suggested they came from "space solar generators" manufactured by nefarious corporations funded by the Jewish Rothschild family.

Greene's inclusion of the Rothchild name is what sparked accusations of her being antisemitic, since the Rothschilds, a Jewish banking family, have been the subject of conspiracy theories disseminated by antisemites who say they secretly control the economy, manipulate the weather, and profit from wars. As the American Jewish Committee points out, “Rothschild” has become a generic term for greedy and manipulative Jewish billionaires for antisemites.

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In an advance copy of her book obtained by The Forward, Greene claims that the 2018 post was sarcastic and she had no idea she was using an antisemitic trope, and that her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was "a Jewish carpenter who died on the cross for my sins, and I have no antisemitic sentiments whatsoever.”

She also said she is a strong supporter of Israel and has support from the Orthodox Jewish community. “Orthodox Jews reached out to me, befriended me, and some even donated to my campaigns.” she writes.

In her book, Greene also touts her voting record on Israel military aid, including funding for the “Iron Beam,” a new laser missile defense system, calling it “Israel’s real” space laser.

“So, it turns out I actually support Jewish space lasers,” she writes.

Read more at The Forward.