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RNC approves platform to expel ‘Hamas radicals,’ combat Jew-hatred

The 16-page platform pledges to “deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again.”

Michael Whatley RNC
Republican National Committee co-chair Michael Whatley speaks to reporters after the CNN Presidential Debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump at the Georgia Institute of Technology campus in Atlanta on June 27, 2024. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.

The Republican National Committee approved a 16-page platform on Monday that outlines the goals of a second Trump administration, including supporting Israel and combating domestic Jew-hatred.

“Deport pro-Hamas radicals and make our college campuses safe and patriotic again,” point 18 of the 20-point summary reads.

“Republicans condemn antisemitism and support revoking visas of foreign nationals, who support terrorism and jihadism,” the document adds. “We will hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against Jewish people.”

On foreign policy, the platform says that Republicans “will stand with Israel and seek peace in the Middle East.”

The 2024 list of campaign pledges is significantly less detailed than the one the RNC issued in 2016.

In contrast to the older platform, the 2024 one does not mention Iran and mentions Israel only once, compared with seven and 19 mentions, respectively, in 2016. The RNC did not issue a new platform in 2020, citing Covid restrictions.

On other issues, the new platform notably suggests that Republicans will not seek to enact national abortion legislation in the aftermath of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

“Republicans will protect and defend a vote of the people, from within the states, on the issue of life,” a subheading on the issue states.

“Power has been given to the states and to a vote of the people,” the document adds. “We will oppose late-term abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance prenatal care, access to birth control and IVF (fertility treatments).”

Other promises include “the largest deportation operation in American history,” eliminating taxes on tips, returning American astronauts to the moon and universal school choice.

The RNC’s platform committee approved the 2024 platform in a closed meeting on Monday. RNC delegates will vote next week on the platform on the floor of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Andrew Bernard is the Washington correspondent for JNS.org.
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