Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) said an unnamed Democratic colleague made an antisemitic remark during a House task force meeting, claiming there was no longer a problem with antisemitism because “all the Jews are rich.”
Balint shared the story during an interview with CNN while discussing what she described as persistent examples of antisemitism in political spaces. She said the incident came to mind after watching footage of California state Sen. Scott Wiener being escorted out of a transgender rights event by protesters upset over his support for Israel.
According to Balint, the exchange occurred during a meeting of the bipartisan House antisemitism task force. She did not identify the lawmaker involved but said the comment reflected a broader misunderstanding about how antisemitism can manifest.
“I didn’t really think there was any antisemitism anymore, because all the Jews are rich,” Balint recalled the fellow Democrat saying.
Balint cited the remark as one of several experiences that she believes demonstrate how prejudice can persist even when people deny it exists. She compared the incident to conversations she has had about homophobia, saying some people insist discrimination is no longer a problem before questioning her own identity as a lesbian. She also pointed to accusations of dual loyalty that have historically been directed at Jewish public officials as another example of antisemitic stereotypes that continue to surface.
The discussion then turned to the ongoing debate over Israel and the Palestinian territories, where Balint acknowledged that her own position has increasingly placed her at odds with some activists.
CNN: Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) said a House Democratic colleague she wouldn’t name came to a bipartisan antisemitism taskforce meeting and said, “I didn’t really think there was any antisemitism anymore, because all the Jews are rich.” https://t.co/fz2x6Eil4V
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) July 7, 2026
She said she expects to face criticism from some of her own supporters because she continues to back Israel’s right to exist while also supporting the creation of a Palestinian state.
“I know at some point there will be a day of reckoning, because I still believe that Jews should have a homeland,” Balint told CNN. “There will be people, I think some of my own supporters, who will turn on me, because I still believe in a two-state solution. I still do.”
Balint went on to explain that she believes both Israelis and Palestinians deserve security and self-determination.
“I still believe that Israel should be safe and secure,” she said. “I believe that the Palestinians have been so ill-treated for so long and deserve a safe and secure homeland. I do not believe Israel should be dismantled.”
