Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun Outlines Aggressive Plan to Combat Global Antisemitism in First Major Speech as Trump’s Special Envoy

By: Fern Sidman

In one of his first public addresses since being nominated as President Donald Trump’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun delivered a powerful and unapologetic speech on Monday, laying out a zero-tolerance vision for combating Jew-hatred worldwide. Speaking at the European Jewish Association (EJA) Conference in Madrid, Kaploun called for firm, consequence-driven policies against institutions and individuals that tolerate or facilitate antisemitism. His speech, as was reported by VIN News, signaled a new, more aggressive approach to the global fight against antisemitism under the Trump administration.

“President Trump made it clear: If a university tolerates antisemitism, it loses its funding. If a student visa holder advocates for terror, they lose their visa. Europe must follow suit,” Kaploun declared, drawing resounding applause from an audience that included Jewish leaders from across Europe and beyond.

A central focus of Kaploun’s remarks, as indicated in the VIN News report, was the situation on American college campuses, where rising antisemitism has reached alarming levels. He cited the Trump administration’s unprecedented decision to freeze $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts to Harvard University after the Ivy League institution failed to respond to demands to address antisemitic incidents and the establishment of so-called “Jew-free zones.”

“When universities allow ‘Jew-free zones’ and refuse to condemn terror, there must be consequences,” Kaploun said. “We must make it unfashionable to hate. If you’re an elected official and you’re not willing to protect every citizen—including Jewish citizens—you don’t deserve the role.”

As the report at VIN News has documented, these measures are part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to tie federal funding and immigration privileges to clear standards regarding antisemitism and anti-Israel activism.

Kaploun noted that President Trump, in stark contrast to past administrations, has directly labeled Islamic Jihad as a threat to global democracy, signaling a shift in the way extremist ideologies are addressed at the highest levels of American policy.

“Trump laid out very, very clearly the steps that would be needed to happen to combat antisemitism on college campuses,” said Kaploun. “He clearly, for the first time, used the term Islamic Jihad as a threat to the world and to democracies around the globe.”

Kaploun emphasized that this clarity of language must be matched with real-world consequences and political resolve. VIN News reported that he praised the Trump administration’s steadfast support for Israel, particularly its commitment to backing the Jewish state “with all their requests, also militarily.”

In his remarks, Kaploun also acknowledged the ongoing hostage crisis involving Israeli citizens held by Hamas. Citing the recent release of Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli dual citizen, he revealed that the Trump administration has been deeply involved in backchannel diplomacy, including with Qatar, to help secure the release of hostages, as was reported at VIN News.

“We started Sunday with 59 hostages. Some are alive, the bodies of others. But today, we stand at 58,” Kaploun said. “And I can tell you that there was not one meeting with the president of the United States, with any of his staff, that the question was not asked: what are we doing about the hostage situation?”

Alexander’s release was viewed by both U.S. and Israeli officials as a significant diplomatic achievement that might open the door to further negotiations and humanitarian breakthroughs, the VIN News report explained.

The theme of the Madrid conference—“Building or Leaving—Decision Time for Europe’s Jews”—spoke to a broader existential question facing many Jewish communities across the continent amid rising antisemitism, according to the information provided in the VIN News report. Kaploun, though acknowledging the pain and fear felt by many Jews, urged resilience and pride over retreat.

“Build, don’t leave. Teach them that our success is our greatest revenge,” he implored. “We can do this together and we can fight antisemitism together and we can change the world.”

Though still awaiting Senate confirmation for his role, Kaploun made it clear that his commitment is already operational. Speaking in his personal capacity, he drew a powerful connection between Jewish continuity, the defense of Israel, and the battle for democratic values worldwide, the VIN News report said.

As VIN News continues its extensive coverage of rising antisemitism and international Jewish advocacy, Kaploun’s remarks represent a pivotal moment in the unfolding effort to make institutional Jew-hatred not only unacceptable, but politically and financially unsustainable.

His message was clear: Jew-hatred must come at a price, whether in the halls of academia, within diplomatic circles, or on the international stage. With strong backing from the Trump administration and a renewed sense of urgency among Jewish leaders, the fight against antisemitism may be entering its most determined and unapologetic phase yet.