In light of the recent killings of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C., the Trump administration has reaffirmed its commitment to combating antisemitism in the United States.
The victims, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, were fatally shot outside the Capitol Jewish Museum. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, acknowledged the shooting, according to eyewitnesses and D.C. law enforcement. Reports indicate that the suspect shouted “Free, free Palestine” following the incident.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt detailed the administration’s actions to tackle antisemitism at a briefing on Thursday. She highlighted a Jan. 29 executive order by President Donald Trump that led to the Department of Justice forming the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, and actions to revoke student visas amid anti-Israel campus protests. To understand this fully, we should note that these protests followed a terrorist attack by the Iranian-backed Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli military response in the Gaza Strip.
The administration’s efforts have largely focused on college campuses, where antisemitic protests have reportedly risen. The Department of Health and Human Services announced earlier this week the termination of $60 million in grants to Harvard University, bringing the total amount of federal money stripped from the university in Trump’s second term to nearly $3 billion. This development follows earlier reports that the administration launched a review into alleged antisemitic activity at the University of Washington and cut $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University amid an antisemitism investigation.
The Trump administration’s stance was further underscored by the president himself, who condemned the recent shooting as “based obviously on antisemitism,” and called for an end to “hatred and radicalism” on Truth Social. Reports from reliable sources indicate that both the President and Attorney General Pam Bondi have communicated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the incident.
The administration’s actions underscore the broader issue of antisemitism in the country. Though questions remain about the efficacy of these measures and the future of U.S.-Israel relations, the administration has made it clear that it is committed to combating antisemitism.
