Senator John Fetterman has now expressed his support for President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw nearly $400 million in federal grants from Columbia University.
The announcement was made following accusations that the university failed to protect Jewish students amid rising antisemitism during protests on campus related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Fetterman criticized the university’s leadership, describing pro-Palestinian protesters who disrupted classes as “assholes” and asserting that their actions terrorized Jewish students.
Columbia let antisemitism run amok to cater to lunatic fringe and paid provocateurs.
Leadership allowed those assholes to take over the campus and terrorize Jewish students.
Now, Columbia pays for its failure and I support that. pic.twitter.com/k1kNYfnsMu
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) March 7, 2025
He condemned Columbia for allowing what he viewed as unchecked antisemitism and praised the federal government’s intervention as a necessary consequence for the university’s perceived failures.
The decision to pull funding was part of a broader response to what the administration described as Columbia’s inaction in addressing persistent harassment of Jewish students.
Protests erupted at the university last year, with some incidents leading to confrontations and police intervention.
The university administration has since stated its commitment to working with the White House to restore funding and to combat antisemitism on campus.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon also weighed in, emphasizing that universities must adhere to federal antidiscrimination laws to receive federal funding.
She criticized Columbia for neglecting the safety of Jewish students and highlighted the administration’s stance against what it considers unacceptable inaction.
Fetterman’s remarks reflect a growing concern among some lawmakers regarding campus safety and the treatment of minority groups during protests.
The situation at Columbia has sparked discussions about the balance between free speech and the responsibility of educational institutions to ensure a safe environment for all students.
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