President Trump
Donald John TrumpBiden pulls ahead of Trump in Georgia Biden takes lead in Georgia, makes gains in Pennsylvania Gore: This election is 'completely different' than 2000 MORE is expected to sign an executive order Wednesday targeting perceived anti-Semitism on college campuses that would in effect treat Judaism as a national identity as well as a religious or ethnic one, according to The New York Times.
The order would empower the Department of Education to potentially withhold funding from campuses for insufficient action on anti-Semitism if they fail to combat anti-Israel rhetoric, the newspaper reported.
The order echoes legislation with bipartisan support, currently stalled in Congress, that targets the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.
It includes in its definition of anti-Semitism “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,” citing “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” as an example, according to the Times, citing three White House officials.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
Elizabeth (Betsy) Dee DeVosHouse committee subpoenas Education Department staff over for-profit colleges DeVos says it isn't Department of Education's job to track schools' coronavirus reopening plans Judge calls Devos student loan forgiveness process 'disturbingly Kafkaesque' MORE has stepped up department enforcement against perceived anti-Israel bias in recent months, including ordering Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to redesign their joint Middle East studies program.
Trump will be joined by Sens. Tim Scott
Timothy (Tim) Eugene ScottJuan Williams: Democrats rise in the New South Could Blacks and Hispanics hand Trump a November victory? From HBCUs to Capitol Hill: How Congress can play an important role MORE (R-S.C.) and James Lankford
James Paul LankfordMcConnell says he would give Trump-backed coronavirus deal a vote in Senate Senators push for Turkey sanctions after reports Ankara used Russian system to detect US-made jets McConnell: Plan is to confirm Trump's Supreme Court pick before election MORE (R-Okla.) as well as Rep. Doug Collins
Douglas (Doug) Allen CollinsWarnock warns of negative ads to come as Georgia Senate race heads to runoff Democrats frustrated, GOP jubilant in Senate fight The Hill's Morning Report - Too close to call MORE (R-Ga.) for the signing, the Times reported. Democrats including Rep. Jerrold Nadler
Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerMarijuana stocks see boost after Harris debate comments Jewish lawmakers targeted by anti-Semitic tweets ahead of election: ADL Democrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court MORE (N.Y.), a proponent of the equivalent legislation who as chair of the House Judiciary Committee is leading impeachment efforts against Trump, is not expected to be present, according to the newspaper.
Free speech advocates and critics of both the executive order and the legislation have argued it could treat any criticism of the Israeli government or statements in support of Palestinian rights as anti-Semitic.
It also comes as Trump himself has been criticized for comments suggesting Jewish Americans owe Israel their loyalty, saying in a recent speech to the Israeli-American Council, “You have people that are Jewish people, that are great people — they don't love Israel enough.”
The speech was condemned by left-leaning Jewish organizations, with the advocacy group J Street tweeting that Trump was “incapable of addressing Jewish audiences without dipping into the deep well of anti-Semitic tropes that shape his worldview.”
