Executive Order 13899

According to the executive order, cases of antisemitism had increased since 2013. A 2006 report by the United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) had found that antisemitism persisted on college campuses. In the recommendations of the report, the USCCR called for the Office for Civil Rights to vigorously enforce Title VI against recipients that deny equal educational opportunities to all students. Anti-Semitism Acts of 2018 and 2019 The executive order which Trump announced on December 10, 2019, and signed December 11, 2019 followed the introduction of two acts in Congress – the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2018 and the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act of 2019. These bills aimed to broaden the definition of antisemitism in attempts to enable its enforcement as a Title VI violation. These acts were controversial at their times of introduction in Congress, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to write a letter opposing the initial bill from 2018. In the letter, the ACLU argued that the definition of antisemitism used in the bill extended to criticism of Israel and Zionism, thus limiting free speech. ==Antisemitism definition used==

The definition of antisemitism which is used in the executive order was written by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which defines it as, "...a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." CNN reported that a White House official had indicated that the order would define Judaism as a nationality rather than a religion in the United States, but the order which was ultimately released did not contain this definition of Judaism. The order does not mean that all antisemitic incidents can be classified as a Title VI violation, it only specifies that the Office for Civil Rights must review incidents to determine if they should be enforced under Title VI. == Reception ==

The order set off a firestorm of criticism among many Jewish and Palestinian leaders. Some American Jews praised the order, == Trump and antisemitism ==

Throughout his first presidency, Donald Trump was accused of antisemitism numerous times. In a speech at the Israeli-American Council in 2019, Trump referenced classic antisemitic tropes in his appeal to Jewish voters. Discourse around Trump's relationship with Judaism in America was revived later in his presidency. In October 2022, Trump called for American Jews to "appreciate Israel before it's too late", aligning with his past claims that American Jews no longer love Israel. ==See also==