Trump and the far right don’t fight antisemitism. They exploit it | Opinion
Antisemitism is increasing on university campuses — and throughout the world. But let’s be clear: Donald Trump and the right wing are not fighting antisemitism. They are exploiting it. And they are deliberately doing so, using Jewish people as pawns in a broader war on education.
On Oct. 7, 2024 the one-year anniversary of the brutal attack by Hamas on the Israeli population, the far-right 501(c)(3) nonprofit The Heritage Foundation published “Project Esther: A National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.” Don’t be misled by the title. The real strategy is to falsely connect U.S. universities to what the report calls the “Hamas Support Network.” The Trump administration has justified its blatant attack on higher education by these allegations of alliance with Hamas, the terrorist organization committed to the total destruction of the state of Israel.
On social media, Fox News and, most disturbing, in hearings of the House Committee on Education and Labor, the right wing has promoted this conspiracy theory, implying that all those speaking out against Benjamin Netanyahu’s Israeli government are in league with Hamas.
Let me say immediately that I do not doubt that people who want Israel wiped off the map have infiltrated campus protests. That’s why universities are requiring student and staff IDs for protesters and are having outsiders arrested for trespassing. But in the name of fighting antisemitism, what Trump and his allies are doing is adopting tactics that serve their goals: undermining democratic institutions, eroding the rule of law and turning Jews into scapegoats. The Trump administration in its outrageous and unjustified punishments of universities and colleges is actually supporting Hamas’ antisemitic goals.
Massive cuts in research funding at Harvard University and elsewhere do not protect Jews. In fact, these punitive actions put Jews in the crosshairs and increase hatred. Who wants the stoppage of grant funding on projects to cure Alzheimer’s and cancer in the name of helping Jews?
Condemn Jan. 6 felon’s praise of Hitler?
MAGA hypocrisy is rampant. On May 7, at the latest hearing of the House Committee on Education and Labor, Democratic Rep. Greg Casar of Texas asked Republican members of the committee: “Do you condemn Trump’s pardoning of the Jan. 6 felon who praised Hitler?” He went on to say that “mindless support” of the Israeli government should not be the only stance to absolve anyone from accusations of antisemitism. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the committee, criticized the hearings as partisan performances and called for enforcement of the provisions against antisemitism in Title VI.
Ah, yes, Title VI, which sets forth legal actions to investigate campus antisemitism — and other violations of students’ civil rights. How does the Trump/DOGE closing of seven of the 12 offices of the Department of Education Offices of Civil Rights, which were undertaking investigations of antisemitism, fit with the objective of rooting out acts of hatred? Were previous investigations adequate? Probably not. The current oversight was bound to be more serious and direct because — yes, I’ll admit it — of the Trump administration’s emphasis. But now those investigations have been undermined or sidelined. Instead we have draconian punishments in the massive withdrawal of scientific research funding — completely unrelated to the hatred of Jews. Due process and the rule of law have become optional.
At the May 7 hearing, Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon said it was “unconscionable to weaponize campus antisemitism, when the safety of Jews throughout history has always depended on the rule of law.” She called for an emphasis on a Jewish core value “tikkun olam,” the Hebrew phrase meaning “repairing the world,” a call to action for social justice.
‘A Pledge to Our Democracy’
Education is a key tool in repairing the world. Throughout history, Jews have embraced the moniker “People of the Book.” It’s not only ironic, it’s wrong, for universities to be attacked in the name of preventing antisemitism. Campuses can and should be the ideal setting for supporters of different views on Israel and Gaza to come together in safe spaces for structured, facilitated conversations. That is in fact going on at a number of campuses. Is that enough? No. Has antisemitism been a persistent problem in higher education? Yes. Should universities do more, much more, to facilitate discussion and insure the safety and free speech of all students? Yes. Do the Trumpian methods help? A resounding no. They make matters worse. Rather than making America great again, they have made America hate again. Hatred has never helped Jews. Book banning has always hurt Jews. Withdrawing funds from essential scientific research punishes everyone and makes Jews a target.
As a former university president and a Jew, I have long been committed to the principles of academic freedom. Recently I joined more than 100 former college and university leaders in signing “A Pledge to Our Democracy,” a call to action authored by the Champions of Higher Education, a PEN America initiative. The pledge unites us in defending the autonomy of educational institutions against rising authoritarian threats and underscores our collective responsibility to take action.
Please don’t be deluded by Trumpian false claims of protecting Jews on campus. The real bull’s-eye is on education and on democracy itself. Autocracies prefer an uneducated populace. The Jewish community, in contrast, has always been the People of the Book, committed to repairing the world. To make the world and our democracy better rather than worse, we must unite to protect education and free speech, promoting human connection and understanding.
This story was originally published May 24, 2025 at 6:02 AM with the headline "Trump and the far right don’t fight antisemitism. They exploit it | Opinion."