AIPAC Runs Weeks-Long Ads Accusing Van Hollen of Antisemitic Tropes

AIPAC is running a weeks-long social media advertising campaign that accuses Sen. Chris Van Hollen of feeding antisemitic tropes of Jewish disloyalty, Washington Examiner reported. The ads reference remarks the senator made at a J Street conference in March and have appeared on Facebook and Instagram since at least May.

One version of the ad states that calling pro-Israel Americans “anti-American” feeds directly into antisemitic tropes of Jewish disloyalty. -Israel alliance serves both nations and that using a Senate platform to attack the pro-Israel community is reckless.

Another version directs recipients to a Washington Jewish Week op-ed on Van Hollen’s “obsession” with AIPAC and tells users that Van Hollen should be ashamed.

Van Hollen said at the March conference that AIPAC may call itself pro-American and pro-Israel but is neither. He argued that Israel should no longer receive a blank check from the United States, citing casualty-heavy operations in Gaza. AIPAC opposes legislation sponsored by Van Hollen that would condition American military support for Israel.

Similar AIPAC campaigns against Van Hollen date back to December 2025 and have reached estimated audiences as large as one million users. The group has previously run television spots accusing him of trying to weaken Israel. Democratic Majority for Israel has also criticized a May op-ed by Van Hollen that faults Israel for the failure of a two-state solution.

Van Hollen told Washington Examiner that he welcomes a full and robust discussion about U.S. foreign policy toward Israel and that AIPAC is out of touch with the majority sentiment of Maryland voters. He said he is happy to take on AIPAC’s position with the people of Maryland, including the Jewish community there.