Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Jewish activist who has emerged as a surrogate at Trump campaign events for speaking out against antisemitism within the Democratic Party, backed out of former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday over Tucker Carlson being granted a speaking slot. 

Kestenbaum, a recent Harvard graduate who spoke at the Republican National Convention in support of Trump’s 2024 bid, told Jewish Insider he decided against participating in the event over Carlson’s attendance. 

Kestenbaum said he was in discussions with the Trump campaign about speaking at the rally, but that the plans were scrapped to make room for speeches from Carlson, Elon Musk and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), among others. 

“I believe President Trump, through the advocating for the Antisemitism Awareness Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act protections, Abraham Accords, and other measures, is the best choice for American Jewry,” Kestenbaum told JI in a statement on his decision. “I will be voting for him and will continue to make the argument for him to moderate and liberal Jewish voters as the election closes.” 

“I also believe that Tucker Carlson is a dangerous antisemite who has no business in electoral politics. I will continue to call out far-left and far-right antisemitism. Whether it be the right or left, I will never attend an event with an antisemite,” he added. 

The Trump campaign did not respond to JI’s request for comment on Kestenbaum’s withdrawal from the event over Carlson. Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) have stood by the conservative commentator despite his decision to host Holocaust denier Darryl Cooper on his popular podcast last month.

At the Madison Square Garden rally, which featured a litany of derogatory and bigoted remarks towards minorities, Carlson mocked the media attention to Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity: “She’s just so impressive as the first Samoan Malaysian, low-IQ, former California prosecutor ever to be elected president,” Carlson said.

Carlson has emerged as a valued adviser to the Trump campaign, and will be hosting Trump as a featured guest as part of his cross-country speaking tour on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. Carlson was given a primetime speaking spot on the final night of the Republican National Convention, and was feted in Trump’s presidential box in Milwaukee. 

Carlson also lobbied Trump to choose Vance as his running mate; the senator appeared on his podcast after the much-maligned episode with Cooper.  Vance was the guest at Carlson’s Sept. 21 stop in Hershey, Pa. on his nationwide tour.

Jewish Insider’s features reporter Matthew Kassel contributed to this report.

When voters in North Carolina’s newly redrawn sixth district head to the polls on Tuesday, local Democratic Jewish activist Kathy Manning is hoping to win their votes. Manning, who ran unsuccessfully in 2018, launched her campaign in December following a state-wide redistricting that captured national attention and reshaped the state’s political landscape. 

Manning’s prolific career includes serving as the first female chair of the board at the Jewish Federations of North America, sitting on the Jewish Agency’s board of governors, and working as an immigration attorney and a community activist in the district — which includes Greensboro and its suburbs. She is a current board member of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

Background: North Carolina’s electoral map was redrawn last year after state courts ruled that the former map was illegally drawn. Manning told Jewish Insider that the redistricting, which created a more heavily Democratic district, was a major factor in her choice to mount another run. “I think I have a much better chance of winning in this district,” Manning said. “Although I enjoyed running in the last district, only 45% of the voters were in Guilford County where I live. The rest of the voters — 55% — were in four rural areas that are very, very conservative and have much different issues than… the people in Guilford County.” In 2018, Manning handily won her Democratic primary, but lost to incumbent Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), 51-45%.

Manning’s competition: Four other candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination. Manning has raised more than $870,000, over six times the amount brought in by her next closest Democratic competitor. Republican Rep. Mark Walker, who has held the seat since 2015, announced in December that he would not seek re-election.

Why she’s running: Manning has lived in the district for more than three decades and has established deep roots in the community. “I think I’m the one with the experience and leadership skills to be a great representative for this district.”

Focus on healthcare: She said her top priority in Congress would be healthcare and prescription drug pricing, a personal issue for Manning, who has battled with her insurance company over medication for her daughter’s chronic illness. “I was just astonished at how hard I had to fight to get the medication approved, and it really started me thinking about what people go through every day to get the healthcare they need and to get the the prescription drugs that they need,” she said. Manning wants to build on the Affordable Care Act, including adding a “robust” public option, permitting people to buy into Medicare at a younger age and allowing the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.

Immigration reform: Manning said the country needs to update its immigration policies because the last major reforms, from 1986, are severely outdated. “The world has changed,” Manning said. “And our immigration laws need to change to meet the current dynamics of our economy. She added that the U.S. should establish a pathway to citizenship for children in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, as well as their parents, and called for an end to the policy of separating families at the border. “That is the kind of horrific thing I never thought I would see in this country,” she said.

Israel: Manning, who has traveled extensively in Israel, expressed strong support for the U.S.-Israel alliance. “It is critically important for the state of Israel to have secure borders. It is critically important for the state of Israel to always maintain a qualitative military edge,” Manning said. “And I strongly believe that Israel is the best ally the United States could ever have in that region, because we share values.”

Trump’s Mideast peace proposal: The congressional hopeful is critical of the peace plan announced by the White House last month, calling it “an aspirational goal that represents what many Israelis would like.” Manning told JI that she doesn’t “quite understand how it will get the Palestinians to the table.” Manning was wary of a proposal that is not a result of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. “I think that we need a plan that is negotiated by the parties themselves and not imposed from an outside country or organization,” she said.

Jewish upbringing: Manning said the lessons she learned growing up have helped shape her life and priorities. “I think it all goes in part to what I learned growing up Jewish, both in our history and in the teachings, those things that impacted me from the beginning,” she said, listing among her inspirations Hillel the Elder’s statement, “What is hateful to you, do not to your neighbor”; teachings about justice in Deuteronomy, and the lessons of the Exodus and Passover.