The Trump administration has reportedly explored whether the US should offer asylum to British Jews amid concerns about rising antisemitism, the Telegraph says. Robert Garson, a Trump lawyer and appointee to the US Holocaust Memorial Council, told the paper he has raised the idea with the State Department and other officials. A 2025 survey found a marked increase in British Jews saying they feel unsafe since 2023. No formal US policy has been announced and the White House has not commented.
US Officials Weigh Offering Asylum To British Jews Amid Rising Antisemitism, Trump Associate Says
Donald Trump speaks during an event to promote investment in rural healthcare in the East Room of the White House on Friday in Washington DC.Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP(Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP)
Officials within Donald Trump’s administration have reportedly discussed whether the United States should offer asylum to Jewish people leaving the United Kingdom, the Telegraph reports, citing comments from the president’s personal lawyer, Robert Garson. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
What Was Reported
Garson told the Telegraph he raised the possibility with officials at the State Department and with Yehuda Kaploun, the administration’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. He said he had heard from British Jews who are emigrating because they feel antisemitism in the UK has increased since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and subsequent protests.
“The UK is no longer a safe place for Jews,” Garson said, adding that recent attacks and post‑October 2023 incidents convinced him that British Jews should be offered the option of sanctuary in the US.
Context And Reactions
Garson, 49, a former British barrister who moved to the US in 2008, was appointed to the board of the US Holocaust Memorial Council by President Trump in May. He has previously worked for Trump on a dismissed $50 million lawsuit against journalist Bob Woodward.
Supporters of Israel have argued that some large protests in the UK against the Israeli response in Gaza contained elements of antisemitism. Critics of that view say many demonstrations were focused on opposing the military campaign in Gaza, where large numbers of Palestinian civilians have been killed. The Telegraph report and Garson’s comments have drawn attention because they suggest a potentially unusual refugee proposal tied to an allied country.
Survey Data And Logistics
Survey data cited in coverage add context to the concerns. A 2025 Institute for Jewish Policy Research study found that 35% of British Jews said they felt unsafe in 2025, compared with 9% in 2023. The same survey reported that 47% of British Jews viewed antisemitism as a “very big” problem, up from 11% in 2012.
How — or whether — any US program to admit British Jews would operate remains unclear. The Trump administration has announced a 2026 refugee admissions cap of 7,500, reportedly reserving many slots for white South African applicants; it is not known how British Jews would be counted against that ceiling if a special pathway were created.
Bottom Line
The report reflects growing anxiety among some British Jews and raises questions about potential US policy responses. At this stage, discussions are reported but no formal US policy change has been announced.
Help us improve.
