US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office, on the day he signs executive orders, at the White House in Washington, DC, March 6, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

US President Donald Trump on Thursday tapped Yehuda Kaploun, an Orthodox Jewish businessman and rabbi, to serve as his administration’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. 

Kaploun helped spearhead and orchestrate the 2024 Trump campaign’s efforts to make inroads with the Jewish American community. He said that rising antisemitism across the US inspired him to assist the Trump campaign. 

“Just a year ago, no one would have believed that Jews would be afraid to be openly Jewish in the United States,” Kaploun told Mishpacha magazine. “The fact that Jews are afraid in progressive universities shows that the United States is going down a dark path.”

In an announcement on Truth Social, Trump touted Kaploun as a “successful businessman, and staunch advocate for the Jewish Faith and the Rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution.”

“With Anti-Semitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest Representative for Americans and Jews across the Globe, and promote PEACE. Congratulations Yehuda!” Trump added. 

Trump and Kaploun forged a personal relationship in New York decades ago after being introduced to each other by Ed Russo, Trump’s business partner. Kaploun served as a key Trump surrogate and fundraiser during his successful 2024 presidential campaign. He accompanied Trump during an event in Florida commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas. 

The US special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism will be tasked with helping the administration craft and advance foreign and domestic policy regarding antisemitism. The position will be within the State Department and must be confirmed by the US Senate.

Touting Trump as an unwavering ally of the Jewish community, the rabbi pointed to his strident support of Israel and willingness to directly combat radical Islamic ideologies. 

“Democrats are afraid to even say the words ‘radical Islamic terror’ while Trump says it openly,” Kaploun told Mishpacha. “He speaks fearlessly about the threat of Iran and makes clear that its goal is to destroy the United States. This when Democrats refuse to even recognize the butchers of women and kidnappers of children as terrorists. How can you go along with that?”

Kaploun also lauded Trump’s recognition during his first presidential term of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a strategic region on Israel’s northern border previously controlled by Syria. In addition, during his first term, Trump also moved the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, acknowledging the city as the Jewish state’s capital.

“He’s a businessman who keeps his word. He declared that he would recognize the Golan, that he would move the embassy, that he would stand by Israel — and he did exactly that,” Kaploun said. 

During his initial months in the White House, Trump has issued a series of directives aimed at reining in antisemitic conduct. The White House has withheld federal funds from universities that it claims have failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination. In addition, the White House has moved to deport non-citizens who have participated in anti-Israel demonstrations or spread antisemitic rhetoric.

Thus far, Trump’s crackdown on antisemitism has enjoyed broad support from the public, with nearly 70 percent of Americans indicating they support the deportation of non-citizens who express support for terrorist groups like Hamas, according to a March poll by Harvard-Harris.