Former President Donald Trump made baseless claims on Tuesday, suggesting that pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University were infiltrated by “paid agitators.” This claim came as nationwide college campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war continue to escalate.
Trump’s remarks were made during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, coinciding with a police operation that cleared protest encampments at Columbia University, resulting in the arrest of students occupying a campus building.
Trump claimed that many protesters lacked genuine conviction, implying that they were motivated by external influences rather than personal beliefs. He pointed to the uniformity of signs, suggesting that they were printed by a single source, indicating the presence of “paid agitators” or a centralized organization driving the protests.
Former President Donald Trump (Credits: Redddit)
However, there is no evidence to support these claims, and the protests appear to be driven by authentic concerns and grassroots organizing. The police response at Columbia University follows days of building tensions, with the campus serving as a focal point for nationwide protests against the Biden administration’s response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Protesters are demanding a cease-fire, an end to military aid to Israel, and divestment from Israeli interests by colleges and universities. The situation has drawn political attention, with visits from prominent figures such as Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov.
President Minouche Shafik (Credits: The New York Times)
Kathy Hochul and calls from lawmakers for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign if the protests are not quickly controlled. Both Trump and President Biden have denounced the protests, with Trump characterizing the demonstrations as “a sad thing to see” and criticizing Biden for not doing enough to address the issue.
Trump also alluded to antisemitism, stating that it is “pervading our country right now” and urging Biden to take action. The protests have resulted in over a thousand arrests nationwide, with some incidents involving violent clashes between protesters, police, and counter-protesters.
