Trump Nominee Faces Bipartisan Opposition Over Remarks About Jews and Israel

Sen. John Curtis cites Jeremy Carl's "anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people" in opposing his State Department nomination.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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President Donald Trump's pick for a top State Department post, Jeremy Carl, is facing bipartisan opposition after a Republican senator pressed the nominee over his past remarks about Israel and the Holocaust. Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, came out against Carl's nomination to be assistant secretary of state for international organizations, citing Carl's "anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people." During the confirmation hearing, Curtis challenged Carl on comments he made as recently as 2024, including agreeing with a podcast host's statement that Israel is "not a victim but instead a perpetrator" and questioning "how long are you going to rest on the Holocaust." Carl is also facing scrutiny over his views on white identity and immigration.

Why it matters

This nomination battle highlights the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party over Israel and the Holocaust, as well as broader debates around race, identity, and immigration. The opposition from both a Republican senator and a Democratic senator suggests Carl's nomination may be in jeopardy, raising questions about the Trump administration's foreign policy priorities and approach to sensitive issues.

The details

During Thursday's confirmation hearing, Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, challenged Jeremy Carl over comments he made in 2024 agreeing with a podcast host's statement that Israel is "not a victim but instead a perpetrator" and questioning "how long are you going to rest on the Holocaust." Curtis said he opposes Carl's nomination due to his "anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people." In a separate exchange, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., asked Carl about his views on white identity, to which Carl responded that he is "concerned with the majority common American culture that we had for some time, that through, particularly, mass immigration I think has become much more balkanized." Murphy later called Carl a "legit white nationalist" on social media.

  • Jeremy Carl was nominated by President Donald Trump in early 2026.
  • The confirmation hearing where Carl was questioned by Sens. Curtis and Murphy took place on February 13, 2026.

The players

Jeremy Carl

President Donald Trump's nominee for assistant secretary of state for international organizations. Carl is a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank, and previously served as deputy assistant interior secretary during Trump's first term.

Sen. John Curtis

A Republican senator from Utah who came out against Carl's nomination, citing his "anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people."

Sen. Chris Murphy

A Democratic senator from Connecticut who questioned Carl about his views on white identity, which Murphy later called "legit white nationalist" on social media.

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What they’re saying

“After reviewing his record and participating in today's hearing, I do not believe that Jeremy Carl is the right person to represent our nation's best interests in international forums, and I find his anti-Israel views and insensitive remarks about the Jewish people unbecoming of the position for which he has been nominated.”

— Sen. John Curtis, Republican Senator from Utah (NBC News)

“I am concerned with the majority common American culture that we had for some time, that through, particularly, mass immigration I think has become much more balkanized, and I think that weakens us. And again, I'm not running away from that comment.”

— Jeremy Carl (NBC News)

What’s next

With Republican Sen. John Curtis' opposition, Jeremy Carl's nomination to be assistant secretary of state for international organizations is now in a 11-11 tie in the Foreign Relations Committee, preventing it from advancing to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.

The takeaway

This nomination battle highlights the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party over Israel and the Holocaust, as well as broader debates around race, identity, and immigration. The bipartisan opposition to Carl's nomination suggests his views on these sensitive issues may be too extreme to gain confirmation, even in a Republican-controlled Senate.