Todd Wolfson is the president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and an associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers University. For six years, he also led Rutgers AAUP-AFT, representing more than 6,000 faculty, graduate workers, postdocs, and counselors. In both positions, Wolfson has used his influence to defend extremist campus activism, attack critics of antisemitism, and push rhetoric that echoes terrorist talking points.
Defending Extremists and Excusing Antisemitism
On June 25, 2025, Wolfson defended Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani by labeling his critics “radical fascists” and comparing them to “trying on Hitler’s mustache.” On March 3, 2025, speaking on behalf of the AAUP, he issued a statement condemning the cancellation of federal funding to Columbia University, calling it a political attack on academic freedom and expressing support for Mahmoud Khalil, a student tied to pro-Hamas activism.
Anti-Israel and Antisemitic Rhetoric
Wolfson’s social media activity repeatedly targets Israel with inflammatory accusations. On June 12, 2025, he wrote that Israel’s “values are murdering children” and attacked Speaker Mike Johnson as a “lunatic” for affirming Israel’s right to self-defense—denying Israel’s very right to exist. On June 1, 2025, Wolfson explicitly accused Israel of committing “genocide.” Earlier, on June 15, 2025, he equated U.S. immigration enforcement with Nazi-era oppression, trivializing the Holocaust to advance his political views.
Undermining Campus Accountability
Wolfson consistently opposed efforts to hold student agitators accountable. On May 23, 2024, at a press conference alongside American Federation of Teachers (AFT) leaders and U.S. congressional representatives, he dismissed a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism as a “witch-hunt.” He praised Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway for negotiating with student encampment leaders instead of arresting them—legitimizing tactics that included harassment, intimidation, and disruption.
Reversing Protections Against Academic Boycotts
On September 17, 2024, Wolfson led the reversal of the AAUP’s longstanding policy against academic boycotts, a dramatic shift that opened the door for faculty activism targeting Jewish and Israeli causes. The move was condemned as extreme even by AAUP’s former president, writing in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Conclusion
As a national union leader and Rutgers professor, Todd Wolfson has provided cover for antisemitic rhetoric and pro-Hamas activism under the guise of academic freedom. By defending extremists, promoting anti-Israel propaganda, and weakening AAUP’s guardrails against academic discrimination, Wolfson has deepened hostility toward Jewish students and faculty. His leadership illustrates how institutional power can be used to legitimize antisemitism and campus extremism rather than confront it.
