Trump Threatens Funding Cuts Over Campus Protests

President Donald Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for universities that permit what he labels as 'illegal protests,' particularly targeting anti-Israel demonstrations following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. He stated that participants in such protests, including foreign nationals, could face deportation, while American students might be expelled or arrested, despite lacking the authority to enforce these actions. Trump has directed federal agencies to review contracts and grants, with a focus on Columbia University for alleged anti-Semitic activities. This move follows his executive orders targeting critical race theory and antisemitism on campuses. Legal experts argue that Trump's threats could potentially violate First Amendment rights, and institutions like Columbia risk losing significant federal funding as a result of these policies.