AJC Congratulates President-Elect Donald J. Trump

American Jewish Committee (AJC), the nonpartisan global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, congratulates Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States and J.D. Vance as Vice President.

"AJC looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and his administration on the domestic and foreign policy concerns that are AJC's advocacy priorities," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. "The global Jewish community continues to reel from the horrific Hamas attack on Israel of October 7, 2023, the ensuing surge of antisemitism, the sustained campaign of Hezbollah attacks that started on October 8, and Israel's seven-front defensive war against the radical Iranian regime and its terror proxies - all while Iran continues its dangerous pursuit of nuclear weapons. The conflicts we are currently seeing around the world reflect a dangerous collusion among anti-democratic regimes and non-state actors. The U.S. must exert clear global leadership and be a stabilizing power as the world contends with these many threats."

AJC worked effectively with the previous Trump administration, particularly on efforts to advance Israel's regional integration - including the Abraham Accords. AJC strongly supported America's long-overdue recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and welcomed President Trump's December 2019 Executive Order to strengthen efforts to combat antisemitism on college and university campuses. We look forward to reengaging the incoming administration on these critical areas of work through AJC's Center for a New Middle East and AJC's Center for Education Advocacy.

AJC's policy priorities for the incoming administration include:

• Countering antisemitism: Antisemitism continues to surge around the world, including in the U.S., endangering Jews and testing the strength of societies and institutions. National whole-of-society and whole-of-government efforts like the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism must continue as global leaders speak out against and pursue new efforts to address this pernicious hate, utilizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism to help identify its morphing virulent strains. Special attention must be paid to countering antisemitism in schools, particularly on college campuses, where antisemitism often wears a mask of anti-Zionism and where students have faced rampant intimidation. And by improving hate crime reporting, we will be in the strongest position to stamp out antisemitism everywhere.
• Ensuring Israel's safety and security: As Israel continues to fight a war of self-defense on seven fronts, U.S. support remains vital. The U.S. must utilize every bit of American leadership to help bring about the release of the remaining 101 hostages - including seven Americans - and plan for a durable peace after this terrible war ends. Equally important to supporting Israel's military defense is the bolstering of Israel's place in the world. The historic progress in regional integration launched by the Abraham Accords must continue and expand, and not be sidetracked by ongoing war.
• Countering the Iranian Threat: Swift and decisive action must be taken to counter the Iranian regime and its malign activities. From its vast terror network, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, to its march toward nuclear capability and pervasive human rights abuses, the Iranian regime poses a global threat that requires a global response - which must be led by the United States.
• Asserting U.S. global leadership: At a time when global conflicts rage, asserting U.S. global leadership and strength must be a first order of business for the next administration. It is imperative that the administration buttress alliances in the Middle East and across Europe, and insulate American allies and interests from authoritarian, anti-democratic regimes.
• Strengthening our democracy: America's diversity is a core strength of our democracy. The Trump administration should seek opportunities to increase unity among the American people and repair partisan divides. Demonization and stigmatization on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, faith, or political perspective must be removed from our national discourse. We will continue to speak out against policies and rhetoric anywhere in America or around the world that threaten democracy.

AJC is a strictly non-partisan 501(c)(3) agency.

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.

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