Trump Administration’s Antisemitism Policies: A Closer Look at Project Esther
In an effort to address antisemitism, President Donald Trump has implemented several policies, including withdrawing funds from universities accused of inadequate measures against campus antisemitism. However, a deeper examination reveals that these actions may be less about combating antisemitism and more aligned with a controversial agenda inspired by a specific policy framework.
The policy paper in question is Project Esther, developed by the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank. This document is seen as a smaller counterpart to their Project 2025, which has significantly influenced Trump’s political strategies. Project Esther outlines methods to stifle criticism of Israel within the United States, including policies like deporting immigrants who express pro-Palestinian views and defunding educational institutions.
Although there was some coverage of Project Esther before Trump’s presidency, it remained largely under the radar. Recent reports from The New York Times highlight the extent of its influence on Trump’s policies, although the White House and Heritage Foundation have not confirmed this connection. A co-author of the paper stated to the Times that the alignment of actions was “no coincidence.”
The Heritage Foundation’s antisemitism task force, formed after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, played a crucial role in shaping Project Esther. Notably, the task force included only one Jewish member, with others being Christian Zionist leaders. The task force’s membership mainly consisted of conservative and Christian organizations rather than Jewish ones.
The donor pitch deck for the task force controversially featured George Soros as a mastermind behind an antisemitism “ecosystem,” and named Jewish Voice for Peace as a key organizer. The task force equated anti-Zionism with hatred against Jewish people, despite the longstanding tradition of anti-Zionism within the Jewish community.
Christian Zionists, who view support for Israeli policies as a spiritual obligation, heavily influenced the task force. Figures like Pastor John Hagee, who have previously expressed antisemitic views, represent this movement. Emily Tamkin from MSNBC noted that “One can support Israel and also spread antisemitism.”
The recommendations from the Heritage task force laid the groundwork for the radical and paranoid Project Esther document. It claims the pro-Palestinian movement is part of a “global Hamas Support Network” aiming to undermine American society. This stance not only conflates criticism of Israel with supporting Hamas but also portrays activists as part of a sinister international conspiracy.
Project Esther advocates for policies that threaten First Amendment rights by suppressing pro-Palestinian speech under the guise of counter-terrorism. While some recommendations, like deportations, have been enacted, others, such as social media purges, remain unrealized.
Amid a rise in antisemitism in the U.S., Project Esther ignores antisemitism on the political right, which studies suggest is more prevalent than on the left. The paper’s proposals, and by extension Trump’s policies, seem to exploit antisemitism concerns to push a pro-Israel agenda rather than genuinely addressing antisemitism.
