Tue Mar 04 18:02:18 UTC 2025: ## Trump Threatens to Defund Schools Allowing “Illegal Protests,” Targets Columbia University
**Washington D.C.** – Former President Donald Trump issued a new threat Tuesday, vowing to cut all federal funding for any school, college, or university that permits what he deems “illegal protests.” This latest salvo in Trump’s ongoing campaign against the US education system follows previous threats to defund institutions over issues such as gender and race curriculum, transgender athlete participation, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Trump’s statement, posted on his Truth Social platform, further stated that protest agitators would face imprisonment or deportation, while American students involved would be expelled or arrested depending on the severity of their actions. He also included the phrase “NO MASKS!”, seemingly unrelated to the core message.
The announcement comes amidst heightened scrutiny of universities following student protests against the Israeli-Hamas war last year, which sparked accusations of anti-Semitism on several campuses. These protests culminated in Congressional hearings investigating whether institutions are adequately protecting Jewish students.
This context is further highlighted by the US government’s current review of over $50 million in contracts with Columbia University, stemming from allegations of insufficient protection for Jewish students during those protests. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that schools have a responsibility to protect all students, and Columbia’s apparent failure raises serious questions about its continued eligibility for federal funding. Trump recently established a task force to combat anti-Semitism in schools, which is currently reviewing these grants. McMahon expressed alarm over reported assaults and harassment of Jewish students on college campuses.
First Piper 