Melanie Phillips examines the growing prominence of antisemitism within American conservatism, highlighting how hostility toward Jews and Israel is increasingly influencing political discourse. She notes that while the left has long been accused of anti-Israel sentiment, a new wave of right-wing figures, including prominent media personalities and politicians, are now embracing similar views. The refusal of mainstream conservatives to denounce antisemitic rhetoric, and the normalization of such views within influential circles, has sparked alarm among commentators and Jewish leaders.

Phillips points to recent controversies involving high-profile conservatives who have platformed or defended individuals known for antisemitic statements. She describes how some conservative leaders, including the vice president, have dismissed concerns about rising antisemitism, framing them as distractions from debates over U.S.-Israel relations. This shift, she argues, threatens to undermine the foundational values of American conservatism, which historically drew on Judeo-Christian principles.

The article traces the roots of these attitudes to longstanding conspiracy theories about Jewish influence, noting their resurgence among younger conservatives disillusioned by foreign policy failures and cultural changes. Phillips warns that the battle over the future of the Republican Party and American conservatism is increasingly centered on attitudes toward Jews, with both extremes united by their animosity.