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Even the greatest champions in the fight against antisemitism need to take a day off every now and then. Take Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who has become the leading congressional crusader against antisemitism at American universities. 

As protests against Israel’s treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza swept college campuses, Stefanik took university administrators to task for not doing enough to protect Jewish students in that politically charged atmosphere.

“As antisemitism continues to rise across the United States, it is critical that our institutions of higher education have leaders who firmly understand and carry out their obligation to protect Jewish students,” the letter states. 

Stefanik is right, of course. Rising antisemitism is a problem, and it is important for leaders to understand and carry out their obligations to protect Jewish citizens. 

That includes not using antisemitic tropes… which brings us to Donald Trump, who has frequently questioned the loyalty (to him) of American Jews and insinuated that prominent Jews are pursuing “global special interests” (perhaps the most prominent antisemitic conspiracy theory). 

On Thursday, he was at it again when touting a provision in the GOP megabill that will benefit multi-millionaire farmers.

“No death tax. No estate tax,” Trump said. “No going to the banks and borrowing from, in some cases, a fine banker — and in some cases, shylocks and bad people.”

In response, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) noted that “the term ‘Shylock’ evokes a centuries-old antisemitic trope about Jews and greed that is extremely offensive and dangerous. 

“President Trump’s use of the term is very troubling and irresponsible,” the ADL added. “It underscores how lies and conspiracies about Jews remain deeply entrenched in our country. Words from our leaders matter and we expect more from the President of the United States.”

Now you might think that Stefanik would be quick to condemn this kind of language since fighting antisemitism is her thing. 

Well, she did not. 

Which leads us to believe that, in her eyes, antisemitism is only bad when “liberals” are practicing it. It’s either that or Stefanik took a day off from her crusade.

That last happened in January, after Elon Musk made a gesture at a Trump rally that resembled a Nazi salute. While the ADL first gave him a pass, it called out the entrepreneur later when he followed that up with some Nazi “jokes.” 

Stefanik, on the other hand, defended Musk. 

During her confirmation hearing as US Ambassador to the United Nations on the same day, the lawmaker first denied that Musk made the salute, and then did not seem to be troubled that neo-Nazis celebrated him and the gesture.

“Over and over last night, white supremacist groups and neo-Nazi groups in this country rallied around that visual,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). “Does it concern you that those elements of the neo-Nazi and white supremacist element in the United States believe that what they saw last night was a neo-Nazi salute?”

It did not. 

“What concerns me is these are the questions you believe are most important to ask to the UN Ambassador,” she said. “I have a very strong record when it comes to combating antisemitism.”

Murphy was not impressed. 

“You are right, these are the questions I choose to ask because I think that your work and the administration’s work on antisemitism only comes with real impact and credibility if it holds both right and left accountable,” the senator stated. 

And that’s apparently where Stefanik’s “strong” commitment to fighting antisemitism ends. 

To be fair, she is not alone. 

As far as we can tell, no prominent Republican has called out Trump for using an antisemitic trope, which either means they are hypocrites or it’s not about fighting antisemitism at all for them but rather about stifling speech on college campuses.

In his Navigating the Insanity columns, Klaus Marre provides the kind of hard-hitting, thought-provoking, and often humorous analysis you won’t find anywhere else.