Sources used in this document:

At the same time, Trump's daughter Ivanka converted to Judaism to marry an Orthodox Jewish man. Trump also supports controversial Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some members of AIPAC champion Trump's hard-lined stance towards ISIS and believe that Trump would be Israel's strongest ally among all other possible presidential candidates. Trump has worked closely with Jewish partners in New York and Florida throughout his career as a real estate and business magnate. Several Jewish special interest groups have supported Trump over the years. Solidifying his pro-Israel image, Trump has considered developing a Trump Tower project in Israel. In Palm Beach, which has been a long-standing bastion for "exclusive," or anti-Jewish predominantly WASP country clubs, Trump worked hard to open a club that would be open to Jews called Mar-a-Lago. These actions have encouraged some members of the Jewish community to shift their traditionally Democratic alliances and support Trump.

Because Trump's stance and commitment to the Jewish community of America do seem shifty, though, his reception at AIPAC is likely to be met with a degree of suspicion. Some cite the thinly veiled anti-Semitism in statements Trump has made. For example, Trump has claimed he was the "victim of anti-Semitism" because people think he is Jewish for "owning so many buildings in New York," (Mahler, 2016). He spoke before the Republican Jewish Coalition saying "I'm a negotiator, like you folks." The Anti-Defamation League has already called out Trump on his egocentric and insensitive comments. A large contingency of AIPAC members are weary of a candidate who would willingly accept campaign funding from sources as dirty as the KKK. It would appear that Trump will do or say anything to garner funding and attention, regardless of what his true values are and where his commitments might lay.

Nevertheless, key Republican members of AIPAC such as Sheldon Adelson, vocally support Trump and have put their money where their mouths are. A growing contingency of Jewish Republicans, particularly members of the Republican Jewish Coalition, have garnered historic support for a party that has typically been viewed -- and still is -- as representing a homogeneous white establishment. AIPAC is a relatively diverse group, and a growing number of Republican members like Sid Dinerstein, who used to head the Palm Beach County Republican Party, also support Trump. These outspoken and well-endowed members of AIPAC are creating a small but noticeable divide in America's Jewish community, which has traditionally been overwhelmingly in support of the Democratic party and its more socialist values. Most American Jews do in fact continue to staunchly support Democratic candidates like Clinton and Sanders -- who is himself a Jew -- and yet a few influential AIPAC members have switched sides to favor a candidate who they believe has the best interests of both Israel and America at heart.