Trump puts US colleges on notice to 'end antisemitic propaganda' or 'lose their accreditation and federal taxpayer support'

On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump said that all American universities must end campus antisemitism or they will lose accreditation and funding. At the rally against antisemitism in Washington, Trump said that to “defeat antisemitism and defend Jewish citizens in America, my first week back in the Oval Office, my administration will inform every college president that, if you do not end antisemitic propaganda, they will lose their accreditation and federal taxpayer support.”

“Truth is, you don't have to do much after that. When you do that, it's gonna work miracles,” he quipped. As the crowd cheered, he added, “We will not subsidize the creation of terrorist sympathizers, and we’re not going to do it – certainly on American soil.”

Trump noted that all educational institutions would be informed that if they permit violence or harassment against Jewish students, they will be “held accountable for violations of the civil rights law.”

“It’s very important – Jewish Americans must have equal protection under the law, and they’re going to get it,” he continued. “At the same time, my administration will move swiftly to restore safety for Jewish students and Jewish people on American streets.”

During his first term in office as US president, Trump issued an executive order to combat antisemitism by adding Jews to the list of protected minority groups under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Trump has also been hailed as assembling one of the most pro-Israel lists of nominees for cabinet and administration positions in history including, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik, Robert F Kennedy, Jr. Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Lee Zeldin, Mick Huckabee and Mike Waltz.