Yehuda Kaploun Confirmed as US Envoy Against Antisemitism

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun was officially confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (SEAS) on Thursday.

Kaploun’s confirmation came as part of a broader set of Senate confirmations on December 17–18, when lawmakers cleared dozens of presidential nominees to executive branch and diplomatic posts.

Kaploun, an Israeli-American Chabad rabbi, businessman, and long-time political figure who served as a campaign surrogate during President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, will assume the rank of ambassador in the State Department. His confirmation vote in the full Senate resulted in a 53–43 tally, affirming his appointment after the Senate agreed by unanimous consent to bring the nomination to the floor for debate and a final vote.

The confirmation marks the culmination of a process that saw Kaploun’s nomination advanced by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in early December by a closely watched 14-8 vote, with all committee Republicans joined by two Democrats in support.

During his November confirmation hearing, Kaploun spoke candidly about his personal experiences with antisemitism and emphasized that education—especially about the Holocaust and Jewish history—is critical to combating Jew-hatred globally.

The World Jewish Congress welcomed the Senate’s confirmation, praising Kaploun’s dedication to confronting antisemitism worldwide and highlighting his readiness to engage in international cooperation through forums such as the Special Envoys & Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA).

“We are confident that Rabbi Kaploun, a proud American Jew, will unflinchingly confront the world’s oldest hatred wherever it appears, and make clear that the United States will not compromise with antisemitism,” they said in a statement.

Similarly, the Combat Antisemitism Movement released a statement commending Ambassador Kaploun’s confirmation and stressing the urgency of his role amid rising antisemitic incidents across the United States and abroad.

With his confirmation complete, Ambassador Kaploun is expected to take up the crucial task of leading U.S. efforts to confront antisemitism around the world, focusing on education, diplomatic engagement, and policy initiatives to counter Jew-hatred in all its forms.