US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday on Truth Social that he would cut federal funding for any educational institutions that permit “illegal protests,” amid ongoing campus tensions over Israel-Gaza protests and concerns about anti-Semitism. This threat extends to colleges, schools, and universities, with Trump stating protesters would face jail time or deportation, while American students could face expulsion or arrest.
Trump’s declaration represents his latest move against the American education system, following previous threats to defund institutions over their policies on gender, race, transgender athletes, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
“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 on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!”
The announcement comes as the US government considers withdrawing more than $50 million in contracts from Columbia University over allegations that it failed to protect Jewish students during protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
Trump established a task force last month to address what his administration describes as anti-Semitism in schools, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon leading the review of federal grants to Columbia.
“Americans have watched in horror for more than a year now, as Jewish students have been assaulted and harassed on elite university campuses,” McMahon stated.
The protests have sparked significant controversy, leading to congressional hearings where higher education leaders were questioned about anti-Semitism and their efforts to protect Jewish students.
Trump has previously advocated for major changes to the US education system, including proposals to dissolve the Department of Education entirely and transfer curriculum control to individual states.
Columbia University, a prestigious Ivy League institution, has become a focal point in the debate over campus protests and their impact on Jewish students’ safety.
The administration’s scrutiny of educational institutions reflects broader concerns about balancing protest rights with student safety, particularly regarding demonstrations related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
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