Jewish Leaders Critique Trump’s Approach to Antisemitism Amid Campus Crackdown

WASHINGTON – American Jews largely disapprove of President Donald Trump‘s performance during the initial 100 days of his administration, according to a significant poll of U.S. Jewish voters. This disapproval is particularly prominent regarding Trump’s executive orders reshaping government functions.

In an interview, Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, stated that some actions taken by the Trump administration against antisemitism on college campuses have “gone way too far.” Lipstadt, a prominent Holocaust scholar, expressed concern about the lack of due process during certain arrests of pro-Palestinian student activists.

“I think it’s wrong, absolutely wrong… to just pick someone up off the street,” Lipstadt said, referencing cases such as that of Rumesya Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student who was arrested after co-authoring a critical op-ed about Israel.

While she has previously praised some of Trump’s initiatives against antisemitism, she criticized the “weaponizing” of the issue for political purposes. “It’s being turned into a partisan issue,” she warned, emphasizing that politicization of antisemitism threatens its seriousness.

Lipstadt noted that she does not entirely oppose the administration’s actions, having recognized the necessity to combat antisemitism in educational institutions. However, she believes the response has been overzealous, adding, “I just wish they would be done more deftly.”

Her remarks come amid concerns voiced by Jewish leaders regarding funding cuts and campus arrests enacted by the Trump administration. These actions have drawn criticism for allegedly infringing on civil liberties and potentially endangering Jewish students.

Despite her criticisms, Lipstadt has remarked on her belief that some Trump administration policies were justified, noting that universities previously failed to address antisemitism adequately. However, she expressed apprehension about how policies are now being executed.

Lipstadt concluded her interview by cautioning against using antisemitism as a tool for political gain. She stated, “Antisemitism is a threat… It can’t be used… as a political weapon.”