Former President Donald Trump has now reportedly announced plans to cut all federal funding to universities that permit what he calls “illegal protests.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that institutions allowing such protests would face severe financial repercussions, including the cessation of all federal funding.
He emphasized that protests should not involve masked individuals and warned that “agitators” could be imprisoned or deported.
This announcement follows recent actions by his administration regarding Columbia University, where officials indicated a potential halt to $51.4 million in federal contracts.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services cited the university’s failure to stop antisemitic protests as the reason for this decision.
Trump criticized what he described as a culture of censorship and “woke cancel culture” that has affected universities, claiming they have become breeding grounds for harmful ideologies.
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. 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! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The former president did not clarify what he specifically considers an “illegal protest.”
However, he previously signed an executive order aimed at addressing anti-Semitic harassment linked to protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In this order, he made it clear that resident aliens participating in pro-jihadist protests would face potential deportation.
Trump’s stance reflects his ongoing efforts to reshape the political landscape around education and freedom of speech on college campuses.
By threatening to withdraw funding, he aims to assert control over university policies and promote a narrative that aligns with his administration’s values.
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