Trump commission member removed after refusing to equate Israel criticism with antisemitism

2026-02-18 - 12:22

A member of President Donald Trump's Religious Liberty Commission was removed from her position after questioning whether criticism of Israel and participation in anti-war protests against the Gaza conflict should be classified as antisemitism. Carrie Prejean Boller, a conservative activist, was ousted following remarks during a Feb. 9, 2026 session on antisemitism held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington. Faith-Based Rejection of Zionism Boller told TYT she felt "freer than ever, liberated from constraints and empowered in my independence" following her removal. During the hearing, she stated that her Catholic faith leads her to reject Zionism. She refused to equate criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza with antisemitism and resisted what she described as political pressures to conform on the issue. Removal and Dispute The commission removed Boller on Feb. 11, citing that she had used the session to advance her personal or political agenda. Boller objected, arguing that only President Trump had the authority to remove her. The commission, established by Trump in 2025, has faced recent criticism and a Feb. 9 lawsuit from multifaith groups including Interfaith Alliance, Muslims for Progressive Values, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Hindus for Human Rights, alleging it fails to represent diverse religious perspectives and is dominated by conservative Christians.