GOP presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump, made bold promises to crack down on universities promoting anti-Israel sentiment and take action against foreign students who support Hamas and other terror groups on American campuses.
If reelected, President Trump plans to implement “strong ideological screenings” for all immigrants entering the United States, as he announced during the Oct. 28 annual summit of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
“If you hate America, if you want to abolish Israel, if you sympathize with jihadists, then we don’t want you in our country, and you’re not going to be getting into our country. I will cancel the student visas of Hamas sympathizers on college campuses. … All of the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests this month—nobody’s ever seen anything like it—come 2025, we will find you and we will deport you.”
President Trump emphasized that during his time in office, he took the “strongest action of any president in history to combat the vile scourge of anti-Semitism” by signing an executive order against “anti-Semitic hate on college campuses.”
“When I get back into office, I will put every single university and college president on notice. The American taxpayer will not subsidize the creation of terrorist sympathizers on American soil. Colleges and universities will purge the anti-Semitism,” he declared.
Educational institutions that promote anti-Semitism will face severe consequences. They will lose their accreditation and all federal student loans, which should not be paid to them anyway.
“When we have students on campuses that are actually encouraging Jewish genocide, who are advocating for murder and supporting terrorism, those students should be expelled from the campus and those folks who are on visa should be taken, deported from our country,” he stated in a recent interview with Fox News.
“Anytime you actually encourage for the genocide, the elimination of an entire race of people, anytime you support terrorism and encourage murder, there should be consequences,” Mr. Scott emphasized. “It should be consequences for those students, and it should be consequences for those universities.”
In an Oct. 24 X post, Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Ron DeSantis stated that “if foreign students are out there celebrating Hamas’ atrocities, they should have their visas canceled and be deported.”
The Florida governor has ordered colleges across the state’s university system to “deactivate” the student group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) from campuses.
SJP referred to Hamas’ attack on Israel earlier this month as “the resistance” and declared that “Palestinian students in exile are PART of this movement,” according to Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of the state university system, in a letter ordering the disbanding of the groups.
Republican calls for deporting pro-Hamas students and defunding universities that allow anti-Semitic messaging come as several schools face criticism for permitting student groups to hold rallies in support of Hamas and against Israel.
At Harvard University, multiple student organizations co-signed a letter asserting that the Israeli government is “entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,” including Hamas’ massacres of over 1,400 Israelis. This sparked backlash from alumni and donors.
A truck displaying the Harvard University students who allegedly expressed their public support for the Hamas attacks on Israel drove around the campus for several days in October 2023. (Alice Giordano/The Epoch Times)
The University of Pennsylvania has faced criticism for allowing a literary event on campus in September that featured “several speakers who have a documented and troubling history of engaging in anti-Semitism by speaking and acting in ways that denigrate Jewish people.”
Students Under Threat
Jewish students have been threatened at some universities.
In an Oct. 29 statement, Cornell Hillel, a Jewish student group at Cornell University, reported threats directed towards a building housing the kosher and multicultural dining hall. Threats have also been made against Jewish faculty members, students, and staff, it said.
In mid-October, Richard Saller, interim president of Stanford University, released a statement after a “non-faculty instructor” reportedly downplayed the Jewish Holocaust.
Meanwhile, President Trump criticized the Biden administration for its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In his Oct. 28 Republican Jewish Coalition speech, he blamed President Biden for turning “a blind eye to the greatest outbreak of anti-Semitism in American history.”
“When asked recently about rising anti-Semitic hate, Joe Biden’s own press secretary had nothing to say about the rabid mobs in the street. They’re shouting ‘kill the Jews, kill the Jews’ and she had nothing to say,” President Trump stated.
“In fact, she stuck up for the other side. She started talking about the other side. Nobody could believe it. Then she came back later, she said, ‘Oh, I misunderstood the question.'”
President Trump was referring to a recent press briefing in which White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about anti-Semitism.
She replied that the Biden administration has not seen any “credible threats” on the matter and instead said that “Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks.”
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) criticized the response.
“What a weak answer. And why are you looking in the book? What’s the approved answer? The simple answer is yes, you are concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism,” he stated in an Oct. 24 post.
The Epoch Times reached out to the White House for comment.
How does President Trump plan to hold universities and college presidents accountable for the promotion of anti-Semitism?
In an address to the Republican Jewish Coalition, former President Donald Trump reiterated his commitment to combat universities that promote anti-Israel sentiment and take action against foreign students who support terrorist groups on American campuses. He pledged to implement “strong ideological screenings” for all immigrants entering the United States if reelected.
During his time in office, President Trump claimed to have taken the strongest action of any president in history to combat anti-Semitism. He signed an executive order against “anti-Semitic hate on college campuses,” demonstrating his determination to eradicate this vile scourge.
In his speech, Trump made it clear that if he were to return to office, he would hold universities and college presidents accountable for the promotion of anti-Semitism. He emphasized that the American taxpayer should not subsidize the creation of terrorist sympathizers on American soil. Trump declared that colleges and universities promoting anti-Semitism would face severe consequences.
The statement made by President Trump reflects a growing concern about the rise of anti-Semitism and the support for terrorist groups within educational institutions. The singling out of universities and colleges underscores the significant role these institutions play in shaping the minds of young individuals and the responsibility they hold in promoting an inclusive and peaceful society.
By taking a strong stance against the promotion of anti-Semitism, President Trump sends a powerful message about the values and priorities of the United States. The commitment to ideological screenings for immigrants entering the country demonstrates the administration’s determination to protect national security and ensure that those who enter the United States share its core values.
The issue of universities promoting anti-Israel sentiment and harboring sympathizers of terrorist groups is a complex and sensitive one. While freedom of speech and academic freedom are vital pillars of democracy, it is essential to strike a balance between these principles and ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
The proposed actions by President Trump raise questions about the extent to which government intervention should be involved in regulating educational institutions. Critics argue that it could infringe upon academic freedom and stifle discussions on sensitive topics. However, supporters argue that it is necessary to take decisive action to counter the spread of hatred and extremism.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial for policymakers to engage in thoughtful and informed discussions about how best to address these concerns without compromising fundamental democratic principles. While the specific measures proposed by President Trump may generate controversy and debate, they highlight the importance of confronting and combating anti-Semitism and the promotion of terrorist ideologies.
Moving forward, it is imperative for political leaders to work together to find common ground and develop effective strategies to ensure that universities and colleges serve as platforms for education, critical thinking, and fostering inclusivity rather than breeding grounds for hate and extremism.
In conclusion, President Trump’s remarks at the Republican Jewish Coalition convey a strong determination to combat universities promoting anti-Israel sentiment and take action against those who support terrorist groups on American campuses. The proposed ideological screenings for immigrants and holding colleges and universities accountable for promoting anti-Semitism signify a commitment to national security and protecting American values. As the issue of universities’ role in shaping public discourse continues to be debated, it is crucial for policymakers to find a balance between academic freedom and countering extremism while fostering an inclusive and tolerant society.
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