Trump removes ex-Miss California from religious panel after anti-Zionism remarks at antisemitism hearing

The Trump administration has removed former Miss California winner Carrie Prejean Boller from the White House Religious Liberty Commission following a contentious hearing on antisemitism, where she questioned whether opposition to Zionism should be equated with hatred of Jews.

The decision was announced by commission chair and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who accused Prejean Boller of attempting to “hijack” the hearing to advance a personal and political agenda.

A former Trump White House official confirmed that the president backed the move. The ouster comes amid sharp debate within conservative circles over Israel, religious liberty and the boundaries between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

Heated exchanges at antisemitism hearing

The controversy stems from a commission hearing held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, focused on combating antisemitism in the United States.

During the session, Prejean Boller pressed witnesses on whether criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza or rejection of Zionism should automatically be labelled antisemitic.

“If I don’t support the political state of Israel, am I an antisemite?” she asked during one exchange. She also questioned whether witnesses were willing to condemn Israel’s military actions in Gaza.



Prejean Boller wore a Palestinian flag pin alongside an American flag pin at the hearing, a move that drew criticism from several conservative commentators.

Accusations of pursuing “personal agenda”

Dan Patrick said no commissioner had the right to “hijack a hearing for their own personal and political agenda on any issue,” adding that her actions were grounds for removal.

Prejean Boller rejected the claim, stating that she would not resign and arguing that forcing commissioners to affirm Zionism as a condition of participation violated religious freedom and conscience.

“As a Catholic, I have both a constitutional right and a God-given freedom of religion and conscience not to endorse a political ideology,” she said in a statement.

However, after being removed from the commission, she posted an Instagram story with the caption, “Imagine a country where pedophiles are protected but Catholics aren't.”

Conservative backlash

Several conservative figures criticised her remarks. Catholic League president Bill Donohue said she did not represent Catholic teaching, calling her assertion that “Catholics do not embrace Zionism” presumptuous.Shawn Carney, president of pro-life group 40 Days for Life, described the suggestion that Catholics are against Jews as “absurd.”Republican Senator Ted Cruz said the episode was “sad,” while emphasising that antisemitism should be confronted firmly.

Trump’s record on Israel

Supporters of the move pointed to Trump’s long-standing pro-Israel stance. During his presidency, he recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the US embassy there, recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and brokered the Abraham Accords normalising relations between Israel and several Arab states.Supporters say backing Israel remains central to Trump’s political platform.

Who is Carrie Prejean Boller?

Caroline Michelle Prejean Boller, born in 1987 in California, is a model and former beauty pageant titleholder.She won the Miss California USA title in 2009 and later became first runner-up in the Miss USA competition. She drew national attention that year after expressing opposition to same-sex marriage during the pageant. She was subsequently stripped of her Miss California crown over alleged contractual breaches.Prejean Boller was raised in an evangelical Christian household and converted to Catholicism in 2025. In May 2025, she was appointed to the Religious Liberty Commission established by Trump via executive order to advise on protecting religious freedom under federal law.