In absence of an antisemitism envoy, Europeans count on Ronald Lauder and the World Jewish Congress

Six months into Donald Trump’s second term, the critical U.S. diplomatic post of Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism remains vacant—with no Senate hearing scheduled for nominee Yehuda Kaploun. In his absence, European leaders have increasingly turned to private advocates such as Ronald Lauder and the World Jewish Congress to fill the void.

🕰️ A troubling delay

Trump nominated Kaploun—a Hasidic businessman described as a “fixer”—in April and formally sent his nomination in May. Despite Senate Republican control, the nomination has not moved forward. JTA reports that, as of July 15, 2025, not a single hearing has been scheduled in the Foreign Relations Committee. The delay comes amid a global upswing in antisemitic incidents, raising alarm among Jewish and European partners.

🌍 Private diplomacy steps in

With public diplomacy in limbo, the Europeans have leaned on the World Jewish Congress and billionaire philanthropist Ronald Lauder. Though not official state representatives, their leadership in convening international Jewish communities and advocating with EU capitals has gained traction. Their informal but visible role highlights a growing gap in U.S. diplomatic presence during rising global threats.

🇺🇸 Senate gridlock—beyond Kaploun

This delay is just one part of a wider confirmation logjam. Hundreds of key ambassadorial nominations are still awaiting Senate action—including high-profile posts such as UN Ambassador and envoys to major allies and UN agencies .

• UN Ambassador: Mike Waltz was nominated on May 1, 2025, but still awaits a confirmation hearing—though the Foreign Relations Committee did advance some Trump nominees despite a Democratic boycott.
• Ambassadors overseas: At least two dozen picks—from Chile to Croatia, Finland to Lebanon—remain unconfirmed, many pending initial hearings .
• Broader politicization: Senate Democrats have placed holds on numerous nominations, including Justice Department and foreign policy posts, prompting Senate GOP leaders to threaten trimming the summer recess to push confirmations.

🧭 Strategic and symbolic consequences

The absence of a confirmed Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism undermines U.S. credibility at a time when Europe is confronting record hate crimes. Historically, envoys such as Elan Carr and Deborah Lipstadt used diplomatic platforms to rally international responses and fund vital education and legal programs.

Now, with global antisemitism surging, European governments express concern that without an official U.S. envoy, no strong signal is being sent. Instead, they look toward non-state actors like Lauder and the WJC to drive international coordination.

🧩 What’s next?

• Senate action: A Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Kaploun would break the impasse—but as yet, no date is on the calendar.
• Public pressure: Jewish organizations and European officials are calling for both nomination hearings and broader ambassadorial confirmations as a sign of diplomatic seriousness.
• Executive urgency: The White House must decide whether to elevate pressure on Senate leaders—especially those in the president’s party—or risk further erosion of U.S. soft power in Europe.

Bottom line: As antisemitism rises, traditional U.S. public diplomacy tools lie dormant. In their place, Europeans are relying on Ronald Lauder and the World Jewish Congress to lead—and the delay in Senate confirmation is turning what might have been temporary disruption into a full-blown diplomatic gap.