Matt Gaetz blasts House antisemitism legislation as "ridiculous hate speech bill"

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., railed against the House’s antisemitism legislation on Wednesday, blasting it as a "ridiculous hate speech bill" before the legislation was ultimately passed.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act aims to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses and would expand the legal definition of antisemitism used to enforce anti-discrimination laws. The bill comes at a time when anti-Israel protests are raging at college campuses across the country.

It was passed overwhelmingly by a 320-91 vote in the House, but that’s not before critics like Gaetz came out against its passage, saying on social media that some excerpts of the Bible would meet this bill’s definition of antisemitism.

"This evening, I will vote AGAINST the ridiculous hate speech bill called the ‘Antisemitism Awareness Act,'" Gaetz wrote on X.

"Antisemitism is wrong, but this legislation is written without regard for the Constitution, common sense, or even the common understanding of the meaning of words. The Gospel itself would meet the definition of antisemitism under the terms of this bill!"

If passed by the Senate and signed by President Biden, the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act would mandate that the Department of Education legally adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination rules.

Gaetz provided an example of one of IHRA’s definitions of antisemitism, which includes "claims of Jews killing Jesus," asserting that the Bible would fall under the definition.

"The Bible is clear. There is no myth or controversy on this. Therefore, I will not support this bill," he wrote.

The IHRA defines antisemitism on its website as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

Later on Wednesday, Gaetz doubled down on his opposition to the bill.

"I want to Abolish the Department of Education. Not empower them as the 'Antisemitism police,'" Gaetz wrote...

Meanwhile, Gaetz's comments were torched by Jeff Miller, a close ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who blasted Gaetz on X about 40 minutes after his initial post.

"You ignorant, racist piece of s--t, the rhetoric like this statement that Jews killed Jesus is an antisemitic trope," Miller wrote. "@RepMattGaetz you are the biggest disgrace to the history of American politics… you should just take your make-up bag and go home."

Later on Wednesday, Gaetz wrote on X that he was taking no view on who killed Jesus, insisting that his position was "a matter of the Constitution."

"The Bible is clear in that its words plainly, textually, would violate this law. That is nuts - and in deep conflict with the First Amendment," Gaetz wrote.