Former President Donald Trump issued a stern warning Tuesday, vowing to imprison and deport individuals participating in what he called “illegal protests” on college campuses. Trump also pledged to cut off federal funding to educational institutions that allow such demonstrations.
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Crackdown on Campus Protests
Trump’s announcement follows his administration’s decision to review $51.4 million in government contracts awarded to Columbia University after the school failed to take disciplinary action against anti-Israel protests. The protests, organized by the student group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), disrupted campus activity last week and reportedly left at least one employee injured.
Columbia and its affiliated Barnard College have been at the center of escalating tensions over protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The university had previously suspended SJP in November 2023 for unauthorized protests, a decision upheld by the New York State Supreme Court. Despite the ban, the group has continued to operate unofficially.
Federal Agencies Reviewing Columbia’s Funding
Federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Education, and the General Services Administration, will examine whether Columbia’s handling of recent protests violates federal policies. Columbia received approximately $1.3 billion in federal grants in the 2024 fiscal year—around 20% of its budget—raising concerns that funding cuts could have significant financial consequences for the institution.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. echoed Trump’s concerns, saying, “Anti-Semitism – like racism – is a spiritual and moral malady that sickens societies and kills people with lethalities comparable to history’s most deadly plagues.”
Jewish Student Concerns and University Response
Jewish student groups have repeatedly called for stronger action against campus protests that they say create an unsafe environment. Reports from the Barnard protest indicated that some Jewish students felt intimidated as demonstrators blocked access to classrooms.
In response, Columbia University attempted to distance itself from the incident, stating that Barnard College was responsible for security on its own campus.
“The disruption that is taking place at Barnard’s Milbank Hall is not on Columbia’s campus, and Barnard’s leadership and security team are addressing the current situation,” Columbia said in a statement.
Trump Administration’s Broader Plan to Combat Campus Radicalism
Trump’s threats align with his executive order aimed at cracking down on “pro-Hamas vandalism and intimidation” at American universities. The Justice Department has formed a task force to investigate allegations of antisemitism on campuses, with plans to visit ten universities—including Columbia—to assess the situation.
Trump also reiterated his commitment to revoking visas for foreign students involved in anti-Israel protests.
“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” Trump said. “I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.”
Implications and Reactions
Trump’s statements mark an escalation in the ongoing debate over free speech, campus protests, and federal funding for higher education. Critics argue that his proposed actions could violate First Amendment rights, while supporters believe his crackdown is necessary to curb antisemitic harassment on college campuses.
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