US Antisemitism Envoy Yehuda Kaploun Criticizes CER President Rabbi Goldshmidt’s Davos Comments on Antisemitism; Goldshmidt Says Remarks Were Misquoted

A public disagreement broke out Thursday between the representative of the U.S. State Department to combat Antisemitism and European Jewish leadership following a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

The controversy began after Rabbi Pinchas Goldshmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), delivered an address that some interpreted as blaming “old European” culture for the rising tide of hatred against Jews.

Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, issued a sharp rebuke from Washington. Kaploun, a Trump ally recently confirmed by the Senate, characterized Goldshmidt’s alleged remarks as a deflection from the real issues.

“Blaming ‘old Europe’ for the present surge in antisemitism is disgraceful,” Kaploun stated. “I am proud to serve in an administration that understands that mass migration is a huge driver of antisemitism,” Kaploun said.

“It creates dramatic social changes and threatens the safety of all citizens. This administration, led by President Trump and Secretary Rubio, recognize and confront today’s challenges with clarity.”

He added, “Mass migration itself threatens the safety of Jews and all communities.”

Rabbi Goldshmidt quickly issued a clarification, categorically denying he had blamed legacy European culture and insisting his words were taken out of context to sow division.

“This is a blatant misquote aimed to further hate against Jews in Europe,” Goldshmidt responded. “I never blamed ‘old Europe’ for the current rise in antisemitism.”

The CER President clarified that his speech was intended to highlight the multi-front threat facing European Jewry, rather than inherent European values.

“I clearly pointed to the surge in jihadist attacks and noted that antisemitism comes from both the far-right, far-left and radical Islam,” Goldshmidt said.

Elon Musk shared Rabbi Kaploun’s statement on X, to which he replied to Kaploun – “Exactly. Thank you for speaking up.”

A source active in antisemitism advocacy told Belaaz:|

“It is noteworthy that Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, just recently confirmed as U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, used one of his early posts on X, his longest since taking office, to criticize non other than a a leading Jewish Rabbi. By contrast, Kaploun has issued no public response to Tucker Carlson despite Carlson’s recent comments criticized as antisemitic and his direct reference to Kaploun in an Interview.”

Blaming "old Europe" for the present surge in antisemitism is disgraceful. I am proud to serve in an administration that understands that mass migration is a huge driver of antisemitism. It creates dramatic social changes and threatens the safety of all citizens. This… https://t.co/NCmaht0oAj

— Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun (@StateSEAS) January 22, 2026

This is a blatant misquote aimed to further hate against Jews in Europe.

I never blamed ‘old Europe’ for the current rise in antisemitism.

I clearly pointed to the surge in jihadist attacks and noted that antisemitism comes from both the far-right, far-left and radical Islam. https://t.co/FPxSqD3H1i

— Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt (@ChiefRabbiPG) January 22, 2026

Exactly. Thank you for speaking up. https://t.co/U0kNpaORye

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 22, 2026