President Trump's War on Antisemitic Hate Starts Now

Antisemitism has no place in a civilized society, least of all in higher education, where young minds are molded, and ideas are forged. Yet, America’s universities have become breeding grounds for Jewish hate—rhetoric, harassment, and violence masquerading as free speech or political critique. Donald Trump’s administration is cracking down, and it’s about time after the Biden’s administration’s complete failure on fighting antisemitism on college campuses letting Hamas sympathizers rule the day.

The recent move against Columbia University shows he means business. Based on the latest events at Cornell University, including the chaotic disruption of a peace panel this week; Cornell should be next on the list, losing federal funding and the tax-exempt status of its $10 billion endowment.

This isn’t about stifling debate. Universities can argue over Israel, Palestine, or anything else robustly and without fear. But when protests turn into swastikas on dorm walls, antisemitic chants, or students harassed out of class, it’s not discourse; it’s bigotry.

When administrations look the other way, they’re not neutral; they’re complicit. Taxpayers shouldn’t bankroll hate, and billion, dollar endowments shouldn’t get tax breaks while shielding it.

The evidence is clear. The Anti, Defamation League reported a 400% spike in campus antisemitic incidents since the Israel, Hamas war flared in 2023. Columbia’s $400 million in federal grants and contracts was slashed on March 7, 2025, after the Trump administration blasted its “appalling inaction” against persistent harassment of Jewish students. Pro-Palestinian encampments last spring triggered lawsuits and federal probes under Title VI, which bans discrimination at federally funded schools. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a failure of duty, and the DOJ, HHS, and GSA backed the cuts. Columbia’s $13 billion endowment didn’t save it, nor should it.

The Trump administration doubled down at Columbia with decisive action against Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student and lead agitator in the pro-Palestinian protests. On March 9, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally ordered the revocation of Khalil’s student visa and green card, citing his leadership in activities aligned with Hamas as a threat to U.S. foreign policy under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Arrested by ICE at his university apartment, Khalil’s detention sent a clear message: supporting terror on American soil, even under the guise of activism, forfeits the privilege of staying here. Rubio’s move, backed by Trump’s pledge to deport such bad actors, underscores that visas aren’t rights; they’re privileges revocable when

abused.

Cornell’s record is just as bad and getting worse. On March 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education named it among 60 schools under investigation for

“Antisemitic discrimination and harassment.” This follows a 2023 incident where student Patrick Dai was sentenced to 21 months for threatening to “shoot up” Cornell’s kosher dining hall and kill Jewish students—prompting a campus shutdown. History professor Russell Rickford called Hamas’ October 7 attack “exhilarating,” later taking leave after backlash. Anti-Israel encampments in 2024 led to student suspensions, but Jewish students still report feeling unsafe. Then, on March 10, the “Pathways to Peace” discussion—featuring Israel’s former foreign minister and vice prime minister, Tzipi Livni—descended into chaos when unruly activists broke out in antisemitic chants and hurled abuse at the politician. Shouts of “From the river to the sea” and “F—k you, war criminals” drowned out a panel meant to explore a two, state solution, with 16 protesters arrested. Cornell’s faced federal scrutiny before probes in 2023 and now this. With $10 billion in its endowment, it’s got no excuse.

President Trump’s got the track record. His 2019 executive order extended Title VI to fight campus antisemitism, and now he is following up. Columbia’s a precedent,

Cornell’s deserves the same. Cut its federal funding and strip its endowment’s tax-exempt status. Why should taxpayers prop up institutions that flout federal law or foster toxic environments? If they want independence, let them fund their failures without our dollars or tax perks.

Antisemitism isn’t partisan; it’s just plain wrong. If universities can’t protect all students, Jewish ones included, they don’t deserve public support. Columbia’s a test case; Cornell’s next, especially after this week’s disgrace. Harvard, with its $50 billion endowment, and others on the task force’s radar should watch closely.

Universities aren’t untouchable sanctuaries President Trump has put them on notice.

For too long, they’ve hidden behind “academic freedom” while Jewish students suffer, their endowments swell, and taxpayers foot the bill. Trump’s already torched Columbia’s excuses with a $400 million cut; Cornell’s festering hate, capped by this week’s antisemitic meltdown, demands the same actions. No more half-measures: slash their federal funding, revoke their tax-exempt status, and let them choke on their own arrogance. Antisemitism isn’t a debate topic; it’s a disgrace that ends now. President Trump has the intestinal fortitude to do it. In baseball terms, Cornell’s on deck, the other 59 targeted universities are in the hole.

Perry O Hooper Jr is a former State Representative who writes columns on his political perspective and has been published in a number of publications around Alabama and beyond. He was an early supporter of Donald Trump and was the 2016 Trump Victory Chair.

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