Editor's Notes: The man who decides which Jews the president hears – comment

Martin Marks, Special Assistant to the President and Director of Jewish Engagement, recently arranged a meeting between President Trump and leaders of various Hasidic communities, including Satmar, in the Oval Office. This decision sparked discussion due to Satmar's anti-Zionist stance and the perceived unrepresentativeness of the delegation to the broader American Jewish community. Marks, 43, has an unconventional background for the role, having worked as a writer, yoga instructor, and congressional candidate, with no prior experience in established Jewish organizations. His family has long-standing ties to Trump's Mar-a-Lago.

• The article notes that Marks has facilitated significant actions, such as unfreezing security grants for synagogues and organizing the president's visit to the Ohel.
• The White House reportedly views these communities as a reliable voting bloc, though the article suggests their votes are transactional rather than based on party allegiance.
• Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, one of the Satmar Rebbes, indicated that the purpose of the meeting was to advocate for Jewish prisoners, stating he hoped "to help a Jew in trouble."
• The author suggests that while the delegation was ideologically narrow and demographically unrepresentative of current American Jewry, it might reflect the future demographic trends of the community.