Former President Donald Trump has questioned whether pro-Palestinian protesters who took over a building at Columbia University will face the same consequences as those involved in the Capitol riots on January 6. The university plans to suspend the protesters after rejecting their demands for disclosing and divesting from Israel. Protests have also taken place at other universities across the US, leading to nearly 1,000 arrests. Some lawmakers and students have criticized the demonstrations as being anti-Semitic. President Trump has previously criticized President Joe Biden over the protests, blaming his administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war as the cause of the backlash.
The former president made his remarks outside the Manhattan courtroom where he is facing a criminal trial over his alleged 2016 hush money “scheme.” Speaking to reporters, Trump described the protesters’ takeover of Hamilton Hall as a “big deal.” He expressed concerns about the damages and injuries caused by the demonstrations and questioned whether the students would receive the same kind of treatment as the Jan. 6 defendants. He further suggested that the students would be treated differently for their actions.
The riots in January resulted in vandalism, violence, arrests, and ongoing court cases. The number of arrests has now risen into the hundreds. President Trump is facing criminal charges over the events in Washington. He has vowed to pardon the Jan. 6 defendants if he wins the election, along with other plans such as closing the border and drilling for oil. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also expressed concern that the prosecution of the Jan. 6 defendants was politically motivated.
The pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across American college campuses, with students expressing their disdain for the President. With the August Democratic National Convention on the horizon, the campus protests risk repeating the violent unrest seen outside the one held in Chicago in 1968. Some Democrats believe that these scenes contributed to former President Richard Nixon’s victory.
Protesters stormed and barricaded Hamilton Hall on April 30, leading to university officials closing the campus to all but essential employees and on-campus students. The White House denounced the protests, calling them “not peaceful” and the “wrong approach.” National security adviser John Kirby insisted that forcibly taking over a building on campus is “absolutely the wrong approach” and does not represent peaceful protests.
Historian Angus Johnston, who focuses on campus activism, commented that if the protests in Columbia end there, it is one thing. However, if it sends the national student movement to a new place, it becomes a different situation. Protests have already taken place at universities such as the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin, Virginia Tech, and the University of North Carolina.
The demonstrations are applying pressure on the Biden administration, which is currently negotiating a cease-fire, pushing Hamas to free its hostages and Israel to reduce Palestinian casualties. With pro-Palestinian students expressing their disdain for the President, experts are wondering how it will affect his chances of re-election in November.
In conclusion, Trump’s comments have highlighted the ongoing tension between pro-Palestinian protesters and their opponents. As the demonstrations continue to take place across American college campuses, it remains to be seen whether they will lead to lasting change or simply serve as isolated incidents. The pressure on the Biden administration to address the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to grow, with the possibility that the protests could affect his re-election chances remaining a concern
