Trump's appointment of 8 new members to Holocaust Memorial Council stirs controversy
WASHINGTON () — President Donald Trump made new appointments to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, which oversees the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Several Jewish advocacy organizations said it's something that should not be politicized.
It's a controversial move after the president removed several Biden appointees on Tuesday.
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There are 68 members on the council, and 55 are appointed by the president. They serve staggered five-year terms that are meant to carry over from one administration to the next.
Late Thursday night, President Trump announced eight new members of the council, including conservative media personalities and the son of Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
'It is my pleasure to announce the appointments of Betty Schwartz, Fred Marcus, Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, Sid Rosenberg, Ariel Abergel, Barbara Feingold, Alex Witkoff, and Robert Garson to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. This Council has the important task of preserving the memories and stories of the loved ones whose lives were robbed in one of the darkest moments in History. NEVER FORGET!' Trump posted on Truth Social.
Jarvis Slacks is against this move.
'I don't like it, and I think all of us should be upset by it,' Slacks said.
It comes two days after Trump fired eight members appointed by former President Biden in January.
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That included his former chief of staff, Ron Klain, and former second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
'Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized,' Emhoff stated.
Slacks said it is 'absolutely terrible.'
'It's obnoxious. That's not what these museums are about,' Slacks said. 'The government funds them and then they independently do their job, which is educate the public.'
Ron Halber is the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
'The sudden dismissal of trustees well before their terms expired — without any apparent cause and just days after Jewish people around the world commemorated Yom Hashoah — is an unwarranted intrusion into the museum's operations, which by design and in practice are strictly nonpartisan,' Halber said.
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DC News Now asked the White House why Biden's appointees were terminated and the press office said to check Trump's Truth Social.
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a statement, 'At this time of high antisemitism and Holocaust distortion and denial, the Museum is gratified that our visitation is robust and demand for Holocaust education is increasing. We look forward to continuing to advance our vitally important mission as we work with the Trump Administration.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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