Latest news with #U.S.HolocaustMemorialCouncil
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Trump Picks Replacements for US Holocaust Memorial Council
President Donald Trump has named replacements for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, including radio personality Sidney Rosenberg and real estate developer Alex Witkoff. Trump 'They are all strong supporters of Israel, and will ensure we, NEVER FORGET,' Trump wrote, referring to making sure people do not forget the Holocaust, which involved the Nazis and those working with them killing some 6 million Jews. Rosenberg, who hosts shows for 77 WABC, Witkoff, the son of Steve Witkoff, a Trump administration special envoy, 'As a Jewish American, this fight is personal. Antisemitism is rising—we must remember, act, and fight hatred wherever it exists. Never Again must mean NEVER AGAIN,' he said. Related Stories 4/30/2025 3/3/2025 Several rabbis, including Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, were among the other members Trump appointed. Twelve new members are Trump in April dismissed Doug Emhoff, the husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, and some other Holocaust Memorial Council members who had been appointed by former President Joe Biden. 'President Trump looks forward to appointing new individuals who will not only continue to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, but who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Epoch Times at the time. The dismissals drew criticism, including from Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who To turn one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous—and it dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve,' Emhoff said in a The council was established by Congress in 1980 to oversee the museum and typically features 55 members appointed by the president. Other members come from Congress and federal agencies. Thirteen members were dismissed by Trump, including former White House chief of staff Ron Klain, former Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), and former national security adviser Susan Rice.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. Community pushback at forum opposing Commanders stadium deal 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. LGBTQ community celebrates Pope Francis' legacy of compassion and understanding 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. Howard University Mini-Med program inspires next generation of doctors 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.
Epoch Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Trump Dismisses Some Holocaust Memorial Council Members, Including Doug Emhoff
President Donald Trump has dismissed some members of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, the White House confirmed on April 30. 'President Trump looks forward to appointing new individuals who will not only continue to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, but who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Epoch Times in an email. Doug Emhoff, the former second gentleman, said in a statement that he was among the members who were dismissed. 'Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized,' Emhoff The Holocaust Memorial Council, established by Congress in 1980, oversees the museum. It consists of 55 members appointed by the president, in addition to members from the Senate, House of Representatives, and departments of Education, Interior, and State. The members usually serve for five years. Emhoff and some other members were appointed by President Joe Biden while he was in office. Emhoff is the husband of Kamala Harris, who was Biden's vice president. Related Stories 3/3/2025 1/27/2025 The museum, which opened in Washington in 1993 and features various exhibits that educate visitors about the Holocaust, is a nonprofit funded through private contributions and government funding. It received $67 million in fiscal year 2024 from the government. Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, While the White House can appoint and dismiss members, dismissal should only happen 'in the most egregious situations,' he said. Greenblatt urged officials to offer an explanation for the dismissals and to reconsider the action. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), a member of the Holocaust Memorial Council, also decried the dismissals, calling them in a statement to news outlets 'an attempt to politicize an institution dedicated to remembering one of the worst atrocities in our history and hurts our efforts to educate future generations.' The 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.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Fires Kamala Harris' Jewish Husband From Holocaust Memorial Board
Not even the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council has been spared from President Donald Trump's sweeping cuts. Doug Emhoff, Kamala Harris' husband, was booted from the council's Board of Trustees along with 11 others who were appointed by former President Joe Biden. 'Today, I was informed of my removal from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council,' Emhoff, who is Jewish himself, announced in a statement Tuesday. 'Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized,' he said. 'To turn one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous - and it dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve.' Emhoff has been a fierce advocate against antisemitism, convening roundtables with Jewish leaders across the country and attending events focused on Holocaust remembrance and religious tolerance. 'No divisive political decision will ever shake my commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education or to combatting hate and antisemitism,' he said. 'I will continue to speak out, to educate, and to fight hate in all its forms — because silence is never an option.' The 11 other board members fired by Trump included Biden's first chief of staff Ron Klain, former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Biden's top domestic policy adviser Susan Rice, and Jill Biden's senior adviser Anthony Bernal. Presidential appointees to the Holocaust Memorial Council serve five-year terms. The council is composed of 55 members appointed by the president, 10 lawmakers, and three ex officio members from the Departments of Education, Interior, and State. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that 'President Trump looks forward to appointing new individuals who will not only continue to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, but who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump purging Holocaust Memorial Museum board of Biden appointees
Former second gentleman Doug Emhoff has been removed by the Trump administration from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, he announced in a statement Tuesday. The museum welcomed Emhoff, who is Jewish, and 11 other President Joe Biden appointees just months ago in January. They were all supposed to serve five-year terms. 'Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized,' Emhoff, the husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, wrote in a statement announcing his removal. 'To turn one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous — and it dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve,' he added. 'No divisive political decision will ever shake my commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education or to combating hate and antisemitism. I will continue to speak out, to educate and to fight hate in all forms — because silence is never an option.' In a written statement, Andy Hollinger, the museum's spokesperson, told The Independent: '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. He added: 'We look forward to continuing to advance our vitally important mission as we work with the Trump Administration.' The 68-member council includes 55 members appointed by the president as well as five members each from the Senate and House of Representatives, and three ex officio members from the Department of State, Interior and Education. The appointments are typically five-year terms. The museum, which opened in 1993, is the country's first memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. In a statement posted to X, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is also Jewish, wrote: 'At this time of rising antisemitism, it is despicable that Trump would use a hallowed institution like the Holocaust Museum to take cheap shots at his perceived political enemies.' Andrew Weinstein, a former appointee of President Barack Obama and Biden, said he was on the council's board and served throughout Trump's first term. 'Moving Biden appointees is petty and vindictive and distracts from - and potentially damages - this important work,' he wrote on social media. Other members who have been removed included Biden's former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Biden's first chief of staff Ron Klain, Susan Rice — national security adviser to Obama and a domestic policy adviser to the Biden administration — and Anthony Bernal, a senior adviser to Jill Biden. All of the individuals had been appointed to the board in January. Their removals came a week after Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Independent has emailed the White House for comment. In a statement to The New York Times, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'President Trump looks forward to appointing new individuals who will not only continue to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust but who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel.' According to the outlet, the appointees were informed of their removal in an email.
