Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Home Vandalized With Antisemitic Graffiti

The Michigan home of Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, was defaced this weekend with graffiti that said: “Nazis.”

Emanuel, who is Jewish and served as former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff and as the mayor of Chicago, was out of the state when the vandalization occurred. It was discovered by the head of the homeowner’s organization in his southwest Michigan residential community.

“This was scrawled on the fence outside the Michigan home of Rahm Emanuel,” former Obama chief campaign strategist David Axelrod posted on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a photo of the graffiti. “It’s despicable. It’s disgusting. It’s just one more flashing red light. Stop the hate. Stop the antisemitism and the Islamophobia. We know where it leads!”

There was no further damage to the property or evidence of a break-in. The graffiti has since been removed from the fence.

The act comes amid tensions in the U.S. since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, antisemitism reached “historic levels” following the outbreak of the conflict.

In a congressional hearing last month, Wray warned of recent failed attempts by Iran-backed terrorist groups to assassinate “high-ranking current and former U.S. government officials.”

Emanuel was confirmed as ambassador last December after a long delay in the U.S. Senate.