(Los Angeles, CA — May 30, 2025) — StandWithUs is extremely concerned about the appointment of U.S. Department of Defense official Kingsley Wilson as the new press secretary at the Pentagon. This decision undermines core American values and raises questions about the integrity of our national security institutions. We respectfully call on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the Administration to take swift action to ensure that hate-driven ideologies have no foothold at the Pentagon.
Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs stated, “Wilson has publicly and repeatedly promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, reflecting a dangerous worldview that has no place in the U.S. government, and threatens the unity, safety, and moral leadership of the United States. Her appointment stands in stark contrast to this Administration’s commitment to fighting antisemitism and upholding America’s democratic values.”
Wilson has repeatedly promoted the “Great Replacement” theory, which claims that Jews are conspiring to replace white people with people of color through migration and interracial marriage. In recent years, multiple terrorists responsible for antisemitic and racist mass shootings have cited the “Great Replacement” theory as a motive for their atrocities. Wilson has also shared neo-Nazi misinformation about Leo Frank, a Jewish man whose antisemitic lynching prompted the establishment of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Wilson’s January 2025 appointment as deputy press secretary for the Pentagon was met with criticism from several Senators and Jewish organizations, making this new promotion even more concerning. StandWithUs urges Secretary Hegseth and the Administration to act in alignment with their own pledges, to reject extremism in all forms and safeguard the foundational principles that make America strong.
ABOUT STANDWITHUS
StandWithUs (SWU) is a 24-year-old international non-partisan education organization that inspires people of all ages about Israel, challenges misinformation and fights against antisemitism.
StandWithUs empowers people around the world to educate others through social media, print and digital materials in different languages, through educational programs and conferences, weekly newsletters, data and analytics, and missions to Israel.
It takes legal action through the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department. It empowers hundreds of student leaders annually through its college Fellowship and high school Internship. SWU provides schools and educators with vital tools through its IsraelLINK middle school program, Holocaust Education Center, and K-12 Fairness Center.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, StandWithUs has chapters throughout the U.S., Israel, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, Australia and South Africa.
For the last fourteen years, StandWithUs has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two charity watchdog groups that assess over a million charities in the United States. This puts StandWithUs in the top 3% of charities ranked for their transparency and accountability.
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StandWithUs is an international, non-partisan education organization that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. StandWithUs empowers and energizes students and communities with leadership training and educational programs on hundreds of college campuses, high schools, and middle schools. StandWithUs informs through social media, print and digital materials, films, weekly newsletters, and missions to Israel. StandWithUs takes legal action through the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and offices throughout the U.S., Israel, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. More at www.standwithus.com.
