Published: April 17, 2025 | Jewish Digital Times
Former President Donald Trump has nominated Yehuda Kaploun, a longtime friend, Orthodox Jewish businessman, and active Chabad community member from North Miami Beach, as the new U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. The announcement was made via Trump’s Truth Social account on April 15, 2025.
🕍 From Faith to Federal Diplomacy
“Yehuda is a successful businessman and a staunch advocate for the Jewish faith and the rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution,” Trump wrote. “With antisemitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest representative for Americans and Jews across the globe.”
Kaploun, who stood alongside Trump during an Oct. 7 remembrance event last year, played a key role in the Trump 2024 campaign’s Jewish outreach strategy. Backed by major philanthropist Dr. Miriam Adelson, he helped mobilize Orthodox and pro-Israel communities in Florida and New Jersey.
⚖️ A Strategic Appointment with Global Implications
If confirmed by the Senate, Kaploun would take over the role from historian Deborah Lipstadt, who significantly expanded the envoy’s mandate during the Biden administration to address domestic antisemitism in addition to international threats.
Kaploun’s nomination comes at a time of increasing concern for Jewish safety in the U.S. and abroad. “Our situation is similar to that of Jews in 1930s Germany, on the eve of Kristallnacht,” he said in a 2024 interview. “The ground is already shaking under our feet.”
💬 Bold Voice Against Extremism
Known for his outspoken views, Kaploun has sharply criticized progressive political movements and university campuses for tolerating antisemitic rhetoric. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing threats like radical Islamic terror and Iranian hostility, calling out politicians who “refuse to label terrorists as what they are.”
“The fact that Jews are afraid in progressive universities shows that the United States is going down a dark path,” Kaploun said.
🌍 A Global Role with Local Roots
Kaploun is deeply rooted in the Jewish communal world, especially within the Chabad movement. His nomination has sparked strong reactions — both celebratory from supporters and combative from critics online — but it reflects a growing push for assertive representation in the fight against antisemitism.
He joins a list of past envoys including Elan Carr, Hannah Rosenthal, and Deborah Lipstadt. The position, now at the ambassador-at-large level, focuses on advocating globally for Jewish rights and religious freedom.
Mazel tov to Yehuda Kaploun and may his leadership help secure a safer future for Jews worldwide.
