A Wisconsin congressional hopeful has been arrested after allegedly launching a profanity-laced, anti-Israel tirade at an Israeli father whose young son was riding in the car. Police say the confrontation began after the candidate noticed a bumper sticker criticizing Hamas.
Matthew Arndt, 54, allegedly cut off the 41-year-old driver Thursday morning in Mequon, a Milwaukee suburb. He reportedly made an obscene hand gesture and shouted at the man before stopping at a gas station, where the father followed and began recording the encounter.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” the father asked as the exchange began.
Arndt allegedly responded by calling him a “f—king piece of s—t” and a “f—king traitor,” while pointing at the motorist.
“Why are you saying that?” the father asked.
“You’re a f—king Israel f—king traitor! F—k you! F—k Israel! Go f—k yourself!” Arndt allegedly shouted.
Police said Arndt was arrested later Thursday and booked on a disorderly conduct allegation enhanced as a hate crime.
As the confrontation continued, Arndt reportedly challenged the father to publish the video online.
“Go ahead and put it on social media. I’m running for Congress in the 6th District, and f—k Israel! Go f—k yourself!” he allegedly yelled.
“Wait, you’re running for Congress?” the stunned father asked.
Arndt allegedly continued: “F—k the Israel lobby! F—k the neocons!”
When asked to identify himself, he reportedly replied, “Free Palestine! Matthew Arndt.”
The father responded sarcastically, “You’re a great guy. I’m definitely going to vote for you.”
The Israeli immigrant, who has lived in the United States for roughly 12 years, told The Post that the incident unfolded while he was taking his young son to school.
“I was driving my son to school this morning. Someone was behind me. I have an Israeli flag sticker that says ‘F—k Hamas,’ which, as far as I understand, is a terrorist organization designated by the United States,” he said.
He said the sticker appeared to anger the other driver, who eventually pulled alongside him, lowered his window, began shouting and gesturing, and seemed to try to force him out of his lane.
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Because his young son was sitting in the back seat, the father said he attempted to avoid escalating the situation and kept as much space as possible between the vehicles.
“My son was in the back seat, so I tried to keep away from him. I followed from a distance, photographed the license plate, and then pulled into the gas station when he stopped,” he recalled.
“I don’t know why I did it, but I went in with my camera recording and asked, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ The rest is captured in the video,” he said.
The father said he did not know Arndt’s identity or political plans until the candidate disclosed both during the heated exchange.
“The first thought that comes to mind is, even if I disagree with someone, I would never want someone that acts like this to run for congress,” he said.
“Even if he and I don’t hold the same opinion, that’s fine, but that was violent. That was very aggressive and violent, and obviously having my son in the back seat, it was definitely uncomfortable for him,” he said.
“He was getting nervous in the back seat.”
The father insisted his bumper sticker was directed solely at Hamas, not Palestinians.
“It doesn’t go against the Palestinians. I have nothing against the Palestinians. I definitely have an issue with an organization that wants the Jews dead,” he said.
Arndt, a certified public accountant and investment adviser, is running for Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District on a Green Party platform, which includes breaking up monopolies, providing Medicare for All and severing US ties with Israel.
His campaign website, titled “End the Cartel,” calls for an overhaul of the political establishment and vows to take on powerful interests in Washington.
“I’m not here to ‘restore norms’ or ‘reach across the aisle’ or have ‘the courage to compromise’ just to preserve a corrupt system,” Arndt declares on the site.
The website also touts religious tolerance, declaring that America belongs to people of all faiths, including Jews and Muslims.
“America is for all of us—or it is not America at all. And any politics that teaches us to hate each other is not patriotism. It is poison,” the site proclaims.
However, the Green Party has taken a major anti-Israel stand across the world. The party in the UK voted to adopt a measure the treats Zionism — support for the Jewish state of Israel — the same as bigotry, including racism.
Arndt did not respond to a request for comment.