Kaploun Defends Record, Stresses Education at Senate Hearing for Antisemitism Envoy

Overview

• Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that education and Holocaust remembrance would be central to his approach and pledged to fight antisemitism globally if confirmed.
• Pressed about the administration’s response to a Tucker Carlson interview with Nick Fuentes, Kaploun emphasized free-speech rights while saying antisemitism must be condemned everywhere and cited guidance from the president and secretary of state.
• Asked to define the line between criticism of Israel and antisemitism, he pointed to the IHRA working definition and said singling out Israel while ignoring other countries can cross into antisemitism.
• Eighteen House Democrats urged senators to vote down the nomination, citing partisan rhetoric and previously reported Miami-Dade litigation, an uncommon public intervention by House members on a sub-cabinet pick.
• Outside groups split on the nomination as mainstream Jewish organizations pressed to fill the long-vacant post, with the Orthodox Union highlighting Kaploun’s qualifications and others urging rejection; the committee has not scheduled a vote.