WASHINGTON, D.C. — Leaders of the Jewish Federations of North America urged President Donald Trump in a Sept. 17 letter to ensure that any deal to divest TikTok to U.S. interests includes “concrete and sufficient steps to purge this powerful social media platform of the pervasive antisemitism” they say is driving real-world violence and harassment.
The letter, signed by JFNA chair Gary Torgow, Public Affairs Committee chair Jason Wuliger, and president and CEO Eric D. Fingerhut, called the prospective sale “the best possible moment to address this issue” and asked the president to direct his negotiating team to make curbing antisemitism a high priority.
JFNA cited platform metrics and prior research to warn that antisemitic content on TikTok has surged and that algorithmic amplification disproportionately exposes young users to hostile material. The organisation also noted its prior support for federal legislation aimed at forcing divestiture of foreign adversary-controlled apps and said it stood ready to assist the administration in crafting enforceable safeguards.
The letter arrives as the White House and Chinese authorities move to finalise terms for a U.S.-based structure to oversee TikTok’s American operations. White House officials described a framework that would give U.S. oversight of the app’s algorithm and a majority of board seats to American appointees, steps the administration says are intended to address national security concerns. JFNA’s letter frames the same negotiations as a crucial chance to require content and moderation reforms that specifically target antisemitic incitement.
JFNA urged that any divestment agreement include enforceable audit rights, algorithmic oversight, stronger content moderation standards, and transparent reporting that would allow independent verification of progress. The letter said TikTok’s algorithm “consistently amplifies hostile content while blocking Jewish voices” and called on the administration to make measurable protections part of the sale terms.
The federations framed their request both as a matter of communal safety and as part of a broader six-point security agenda delivered to policymakers this month. Jewish communal leaders said tackling antisemitism online must be paired with other protective measures for schools and institutions.
Civil society and legal experts say translating content demands into verifiable contractual obligations is technically and legally complex. Still, advocates note that a negotiated sale provides leverage that was not available while TikTok remained wholly under foreign ownership. JFNA’s letter argues the current moment is unique and should be used to secure durable, verifiable protections for Jewish users and other vulnerable communities.
The White House has moved quickly on the broader TikTok question, citing the 2024 law that permits forced divestiture unless a compliant sale is arranged. Administration officials have said they will press for U.S. control of the platform’s operations as part of any agreement. JFNA’s intervention signals a strong communal interest in ensuring that public safety and hate mitigation are written into the terms.
This article is based on verified information from the Jewish Federations of North America letter and blog post, congressional legislative records, Reuters, and AP reporting on the TikTok divestment negotiations.