On March 5, US President Donald Trump threatened Hamas: “‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye — you can choose.” The post came just hours after the White House confirmed that the US had entered direct negotiations with the Palestinian group regarding the Gaza ceasefire.
"'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am… pic.twitter.com/88EjVAyWAe
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 5, 2025
On March 7, the White House published a “Shalom Columbia” graphic when it pulled $400 million in federal funding from the university, citing its failure to address ‘antisemitism’.
SHALOM COLUMBIA: The Trump Admin, led by @USEDgov and the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism (@TheJusticeDept, @HHSGov, & @USGSA), has canceled ~$400M in federal grants to @Columbia over its failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment. pic.twitter.com/CavoXbhhvx
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 7, 2025
And on March 10, after ICE agents arrested pro-Palestine activist and recent Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil for taking part in anti-genocide protests, the White House posted “Shalom Mahmoud” over a black-and-white picture of his face.
SHALOM, MAHMOUD.
"ICE proudly apprehended and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student on the campus of @Columbia University. This is the first arrest of many to come." –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/gfuPd0tskf
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 10, 2025
The three shaloms come amid a wave of executive orders issued during the first two months of Trump’s second presidency.
Each post linked to matters concerning the Jewish community. Shalom is a Hebrew greeting, based on the root for “completeness”. Literally meaning “peace”, shalom is used for both hello and goodbye.
However, Trump’s use of Hebrew faced backlash from pro-Palestine activists and American Jews, who accused him of weaponizing antisemitism to justify drastic actions, including the chilling restrictions on freedom of speech.
I can only react to this image as I am: a Jew. To make Jewish words and phrases interchangeable with ICE detention is to make Judaism the face of fascism. This has happened in Israel and will happen here if we allow it https://t.co/LRwRMp7j7d
— David Grossman (@davidgross_man) March 10, 2025
Shalom? Using Hebrew language to persecute/mock Mahmoud Khalil conflates Jews with Israel – it's exactly what triggers antisemitic attacks against Jews. This coming from Trump's White House is preposterous. If pro-Palestine protesters are terrorist sympathisers so is every… https://t.co/x2wxJb59GR
— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) March 10, 2025
The latest in Orwellianisms — Trump admin has been using "Shalom" — which means "Peace" in Hebrew to basically declar war. https://t.co/Yexcx1rgZO
— Sam Husseini (@samhusseini) March 7, 2025
Did you also vote for the White House to make formal declarations with “shalom”?
To arrest & deport critics of Israel?
To send billions to Israel?
To set up “antisemitism task forces”?
Who does Trump represent?
America or Israel?
Aren’t you JEWISH?
Does that explain it? pic.twitter.com/fIbtvyMEnG
— IanMalcolm84 (@IanMalcolm84) March 11, 2025
Meanwhile, anti-Palestinian accounts on X hailed Trump’s shalom use.
I don’t care if you’re left or right, black or white! If you’re a JEW you love President Trumps definition of “SHALOM!!!” pic.twitter.com/xJvG1mMTKy
— Ziv Tamir (Ziv The Watch Guy) (@ZivOTamir) March 7, 2025
SHALOM COLUMBIA: The Trump Admin, led by @USEDgov and the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism (@TheJusticeDept, @HHSGov, & @USGSA), has canceled ~$400M in federal grants to @Columbia over its failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment. pic.twitter.com/CavoXbhhvx
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 7, 2025
Trump was not the first U.S. President to use the Hebrew word. In November 1995, Bill Clinton also used it, saying, “Shalom, chaver,” as he mourned the loss of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, referring to him as his “chaver” (friend). However, Trump chose to use “shalom” nearly 30 years later, in a far more troubling context.