Yuval David, an actor, filmmaker, and activist, recently shared his journey from lifelong Democrat to Trump voter with Fox News Digital. This decision, he emphasizes, wasn't taken lightly, driven by feelings of exclusion and a lack of representation within the communities he expected to embrace him. He felt his values and safety were better aligned with the Republican party.

The Emmy-winning actor, known for roles in shows like "Madame Secretary," expressed a growing sense of alienation from the Democratic Party, particularly after the October 7th attacks and leading up to the 2024 election. He believes the events of that day intensified existing societal issues, particularly what he perceives as rising antisemitism, even within progressive and LGBTQ+ spaces.

David, who identifies as a gay, progressive American-Israeli, feels the aftermath of the attacks has emboldened those who harbor anti-Jewish sentiments, using the conflict as justification for their prejudice. He argues this stems from a deliberate misinterpretation of information and ingrained bigotry. He believes that for many years, his liberal, progressive views were integral to both his American and Israeli identities. However, he witnessed a shift in these movements, with changing values that no longer aligned with his own.

A pivotal moment for David was the 2024 Washington, D.C. pride march. Marching alongside fellow Jews and allies, he experienced physical and verbal abuse, a stark contrast to the inclusive environment he expected. He recounted being physically assaulted, having Israeli flags broken, and witnessing his camerawoman being attacked. This incident, he says, epitomized the growing intolerance he'd observed within segments of the LGBTQ+ community.

While David doesn't feel unsafe as a gay man in America, he expresses concern for his safety as a Jew, citing death threats and physical assaults. He points to incidents on college campuses where Jewish professors and students are harassed, and demonstrations prevent Jewish individuals from accessing certain areas. He contrasts this with the Trump administration's more vocal stance against antisemitism, particularly its enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students from discrimination – a measure he feels previous administrations neglected.

David expresses disappointment with what he sees as the Democratic Party's hesitancy to address this issue, while he credits Trump for acknowledging and acting against anti-Jewish racism. He also challenges the notion of Trump as anti-LGBTQ+, citing the administration's global initiative to decriminalize homosexuality and the appointment of Richard Grenell, the first openly gay person to hold a cabinet-level position. He views Trump's policies on transgender issues, such as restricting biological males from competing in women's sports, as rooted in fairness and protecting children, rather than attacking the LGBTQ+ community.

While critical of current progressive movements, David still identifies as an "old-school liberal" and believes in inclusive dialogue. He emphasizes the importance of diverse voices being heard and challenges what he perceives as a silencing of conservative LGBTQ+ members by the far left. He has found, ironically, that conservatives are more open to allowing differing viewpoints within the LGBTQ+ community.

David hopes the Democratic Party will learn from the recent election and refocus on representing all Americans and upholding the values they claim to represent. He advocates for open conversations and inclusivity, as long as it doesn't involve attempts to silence or erase others.