Robert Besser
08 Mar 2025, 11:01 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Former U.S. President Donald Trump says he wants to cut federal funding for colleges that allow what he calls "illegal protests."
In a social media post, he also said that protest organizers would be jailed or deported if they were not U.S. citizens, and American students could be expelled or arrested.
Trump's post repeated ideas from executive orders he issued in 2019 and again on January 29. His recent order instructed the Department of Education to investigate colleges that receive federal funds if they fail to protect Jewish students from antisemitism.
Civil rights groups criticized Trump's statement, calling it a threat to free speech. The nonprofit group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said the plan would make students afraid to speak out on political issues. Legal experts also noted that the U.S. Constitution protects free speech and assembly, and the president cannot force colleges to expel students.
Trump has also asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deport international students who take part in protests.
Protests over the Gaza conflict spread across U.S. college campuses last year, with students demanding that their schools cut ties with companies supporting Israel. Some of these protests, as well as counter-protests in support of Israel, led to allegations of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab bias. Protest leaders, including some Jewish students, say they oppose Israel's policies but reject claims that their movement is antisemitic.
Get a daily dose of Bristol Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Bristol Star.
More InformationLondon [UK], May 17 (ANI): United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised both India and Pakistan during his visit to Pakistan...
London has been behind all the West's escalatory moves in the Ukraine conflict, the Russian UK Embassy says ...
The Wests interference in other nations affairs has already brought grave consequences to Europe, Vladimir Medinsky has warned The...
Brussels is seeking a better agreement than Londons EU trade ministers have criticized the UK's trade agreement with the US, warning...
London [UK], May 16 (ANI): With India carrying out Operation Sindoor early on May 7 in response to Pahalgam terror attack and effectively...
Washington [US], May 16 (ANI): Actor Charlotte Kirk has joined the cast of 'Write To Kill,' a new crime drama series created by author...
LOS ANGELES, California: One person died and 32 others were hurt when a tour bus and an SUV crashed on a freeway near Los Angeles over...
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: A passenger bus carrying nearly 50 people skidded off a cliff in Sri Lanka's central highlands, killing 21 and...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the United...
PASADENA, California: A U.S. appeals court late last week upheld a federal law that stops felons from owning guns. The court rejected...
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California: Google will pay US$1.4 billion to settle allegations that it unlawfully collected user data in Texas without...
WARSAW, Poland: Poland has ordered Russia to shut down its consulate in Krakow following allegations that Moscow was involved in a...