On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee will hold a hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. If they are actually concerned about antisemitism and not just political stunts, they should really look within their own caucus. From the head of their party, Donald Trump, down to federal and local elected officials, Republicans have a real antisemitism problem that they need to address.
Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans repeatedly push antisemitic conspiracy theories and use Jewish Holocaust survivor George Soros and so-called “globalists” as their boogeymen to dog whistle. In 2023, Donald Trump sent almost 800 emails to his supporters invoking George Soros or globalists. House and Senate Republicans invoked them in over 300 emails from 79 members in 2023 as well.
Last year, all 26 Republican members of the House Oversight Committee refused to sign a letter denouncing white nationalism and the racist and antisemitic Great Replacement Theory. The members include House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), House Education Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Scott Perry (R-PA), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and Lauren Boebert (R-CO).
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has made repeated antisemitic comments and spread antisemitic conspiracy theories for years. Between her conspiracies about Jewish space lasers, comparing wearing masks to the Holocaust, and her close association with infamous antisemite Nick Fuentes, Greene should be the first person House Republicans should look at if they really care about antisemitism.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has a long history of palling around with antisemites. Last year, one of his staff members was exposed as an active member of the white supremacist group “Groypers.” Gosar himself has been tied to the group’s leader. This year it was revealed that two other staffers that had previously worked for him extensively posted antisemitic, racist, and homophobic content on social media. He has also promoted an antisemitic website which praises Adolf Hitler and spoke at an event in Hungary alongside fellow far-right extremists, including the current leader of an Austrian political party founded by Nazi SS officers. Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL) also spoke at this event.
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) compared DirecTV dropping Newsmax TV from their lineup to the Holocaust.
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) put up a white Christian nationalist flag outside his congressional office proudly exposing his extremist roots. Grothman’s call for DHS Secretary Mayorkas to be impeached was littered with “invasion” rhetoric after supporting antisemitic Great Replacement conspiracy theories in the past.