Project Esther: America’s Tyranny

In President Trump’s America it is dangerous to criticize Israel. Pro-Palestinian advocacy has been defined as support for terrorism, and using unsubstantiated claims punitive measures against dissenting voices are implemented.

Trump is doing this because he has a blueprint for repression. It is a document known as “Project Esther.” It is a key component of “Project 2025,” the vast program for the hostile takeover of the United States which is now being implemented by Trump (though he does deny it).

Project Esther (PE) is an initiative by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and it was launched in October 2024 to counter “antisemitism” in the United States. PE frames pro-Palestinian activism as part of a "Hamas Support Network" (HSN) and aims to dismantle related movements within 12–24 months.

PE’s objectives are to target pro-Palestinian groups, universities, and activists, labeling them as “antisemitic” and linked to “terrorism,” and it proposes measures to disrupt funding, communications, and protests, including using anti-terror laws and immigration policies to deport activists, by exploiting legals tools like RICO and FARA.

The lead authors of PE are not explicitly named, but the initiative is spearheaded by Mario Bramnick (a pastor) and Luke Moon. Both self-identify as Christian Nationalists, with ties to evangelical Christian organizations.

Mario Bramnick, a Cuban-American pastor and president of the Latino Coalition for Israel, is a prominent figure in contemporary Christian Zionism, particularly within the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a charismatic evangelical movement focused on political dominionism and end-times theology. His activism centers on unconditional support for Israel, often framed through a theological lens that intertwines biblical prophecy with modern geopolitics.

Bramnick has directly lobbied heads of state—including former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele—to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem, a policy goal tied to NAR’s belief in accelerating biblical prophecy. He co-founded the Conference of Presidents of Christian Organizations in Support of Israel to advance pro-Israel policies at federal and state levels.

Bramnick regards President Trump as a divinely appointed leader akin to biblical figures like Cyrus and Darius, claiming Trump’s presidency represents a “blank check” for Israeli territorial expansion, including annexation of the West Bank. He asserts that Israel’s military actions in Gaza and beyond are “supernaturally” ordained.

Unlike traditional Christian Zionists, who await Jewish conversion at Christ’s return, Bramnick actively promotes evangelism to Jews, partnering with missionary organizations aimed at converting Jewish people to his version of Christianity. This aligns with NAR’s emphasis on immediate spiritual warfare to hasten the Second Coming.

As a Trump adviser and former White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative envoy, Bramnick has shaped policies targeting Palestine solidarity movements, including surveillance and legal repression through initiatives like PE. He frames anti-Zionism as antisemitism, advocating for punitive measures against critics of Israel.

Luke Moon, CEO of the Philos Project, is a prominent Christian Zionist leader who emphasizes theological, historical, and relational foundations for Christian support of Israel.

Moon roots his support for Israel in scriptural interpretation, viewing the Jewish people and the Land of Israel as central to God’s redemptive plan. He describes witnessing Jewish traditions like Shabbat blessings as moments where “ancient and modern Israel [are] smashed together,” affirming his belief in divine faithfulness to biblical promises. He rejects the notion that Christian Zionism is purely political, framing it instead as a spiritual commitment to stand with Jews during crises.

Moon criticizes the lack of Christian advocacy for Israel, stating that many view Israel “like Narnia”—a distant, mythical place—rather than engaging practically. Through the Conference of Christian Presidents for Israel (a coalition of 70+ U.S. organizations), he seeks to expand grassroots mobilization, particularly after the October 7 attacks (in which Israel was complciit via the Hannibal Directive). Moon’s efforts include addressing antisemitism within conservative Christian circles and countering isolationist trends in U.S. politics regarding Iran and Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

Moon notes declining support among younger evangelicals who prefer a “pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, pro-peace” stance, which he dismisses as unrealistic (which he likens to being “pro-unicorn”).

The Philos Project, under Moon, prioritizes coalition-building across Catholic, Hispanic, and other Christian communities to foster pro-Israel advocacy. Moon’s personal experiences—including 40 trips to Israel since 2012—shape his emphasis on direct engagement and countering anti-Israel activism within churches.

At the core of PE lies the strategy to dismantle what it calls the “Hamas Support Network” (HSN) within 12 to 24 months of Trump taking office.

PE defines HSN as a coalition of individuals and organizations within the U.S. that it claims are working to advance Hamas's agenda, which it characterizes as "decidedly antisemitic, anti-Israel, and anti-American."

The organizations that it identifies include American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), which is identified as the central node, with groups like National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP/SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) labeled as its "action arms."

Then, PE identifies the Tides Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund and accuses them of providing financial and logistical support to Hamas.

The HSN is described by PE as engaging in propaganda dissemination, organizing protests, intimidating Jewish communities, and pressuring the U.S. government to abandon support for Israel. PE claims these groups recruit members, coordinate demonstrations, and spread antisemitic narratives under the guise of pro-Palestinian advocacy.

PE asserts that the HSN aims to destabilize U.S. support for Israel, undermine democracy and capitalism, and exploit America’s open society by infiltrating academia, media, and government institutions. It accuses the HSN of aligning with "nihilist" movements seeking systemic societal change.

PE emphasizes the HSN’s use of legal protections, donor networks, and academic institutions to operate, describing this interconnected system as the "infrastructure" enabling antisemitic activities. It advocates targeting these structures through lawfare, financial pressure, and reputational campaigns.

The Trump administration's actions and PE are closely aligned in efforts to suppress pro-Palestinian activism under the guise of combating “antisemitism.” This becomes apparent when the objectives of PE are placed beside what Trump is doing.

Thus, the core objectives of PE are:

• Reframing Criticism of Israel: PE labels pro-Palestinian advocacy as part of a "Hamas Support Network," conflating activism with terrorism.
• Legal and Immigration Crackdowns: It advocates deporting student visa holders, revoking green cards, and using anti-racketeering laws to dismantle organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine.
• Financial and Reputational Warfare: The plan pressures donors and universities to defund pro-Palestinian groups while leveraging "name-and-shame" campaigns (e.g., Canary Mission) to isolate activists.

And what Trump has already done:

• Visa Revocations and Deportations: The Trump administration has revoked visas and threatened deportation for foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, citing alleged Hamas ties.
• University Crackdowns: Federal funding has been pulled from universities over antisemitism allegations, mirroring PE’s call to penalize institutions that permit pro-Palestinian activism.
• Rhetorical Alignment: Officials have systematically branded protesters as "Hamas supporters," echoing PE’s strategy to delegitimize dissent.

As most with most actions that Trump is taking inside the United States, his deployment of PE is riddled with overreach.

First there is the erosion of civil liberties. PE weaponizes accusations of antisemitism to criminalize free speech and freedom of assembly, disproportionately, and intentionally, targeting Muslim, Arab, and immigrant communities.

Second, PE means the expansion of executive power. PE seeks to reduce judicial oversight for deportations, aiming to fast-track removals through Supreme Court interventions.

Thus, PE is a blueprint for suppressing social justice movements beyond Palestine advocacy, reflecting the Heritage Foundation’s broader Project 2025 agenda to reshape governance around their own priorities. Its tactics—financial sabotage, lawfare, and ideological framing—could be replicated against other dissident groups.

In effect, the Trump administration has operationalized Project Esther’s recommendations to justify punitive measures against pro-Palestinian activists, marking a significant escalation in the politicization of immigration and counterterrorism policies.

The reach of PE appears to be international, with journalists being arrested for criticizing Israel, the most prominent examples being Richard Medhurst in Austria, Shahin Hazamy in France and Ali Abunimah in Switzerland.

It is the triumph of Zionism in the United States that we are witnessing, which another way of saying, tyranny.