McConnell says university presidents need to "get control of the situation" amid protests

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took a measured attack Thursday connected really to grip nan pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupting connected assemblage campuses, saying he'd hold to spot if assemblage presidents "can get power of nan situation" earlier taking much forceful measures. 

McConnell made nan comments successful an question and reply pinch "Face nan Nation" moderator and main overseas affairs analogous Margaret Brennan. 

Demonstrations against U.S. support to Israel have erupted astatine campuses nationwide, notably astatine Ivy League institutions Columbia University and Yale University, which person been roiled by accusations of antisemitism. Protesters person been arrested connected some of those campuses. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson met pinch Jewish students at Columbia University connected Wednesday, and though he was greeted pinch large boos, he told CBS News it was clip to telephone successful nan National Guard. After protests astatine nan University of Texas astatine Austin, nan Texas National Guard said it was "aware and prepared" to respond to protests connected Wednesday that led to dozens of arrests. Gov. Greg Abbott says he believes "all of nan protesters" beryllium successful jail. 

Margaret Brennan interviews Mitch McConnell connected "Face nan Nation" connected April 25, 2025.  CBS News

Brennan asked McConnell if he agrees pinch Johnson, Abbott and their allies.  

"Well here's nan measurement I look astatine it," McConnell responded. "The First Amendment is important but it doesn't springiness you nan expertise to declare there's a occurrence going connected successful nan theatre because it threatens everyone else. What needs to happen, astatine slightest astatine nan beginning, is these assemblage presidents request to get power of nan situation, let free speech, and push backmost against antisemitism. I thought that was mostly gone successful this country, but we've seen a number of young group who are really antisemitic. Why don't they each beryllium down and person a civilian speech alternatively than trying to predominate nan talk? And I deliberation nan first statement of defense is these assemblage presidents."

Brennan pushed McConnell to explain whether he wouldn't telephone for nan National Guard to intervene astatine this point. 

"Let's spot if these assemblage presidents tin get power of nan situation," McConnell reiterated. "They ought to beryllium capable to do that. Civil chat is what assemblage acquisition is expected to beryllium about. I'd beryllium willing successful proceeding nan antisemitic group explicate nan justification for that benignant of talk." 

McConnell's GOP counterpart successful nan House, Johnson, said Wednesday that he met concisely pinch Columbia University president Nemat Shafik and different apical assemblage officials. After that, Johnson, steps from Columbia University campus, called for Shafik to resign if she can't instantly bring an extremity to nan protests. 

"Our emotion is that they person not acted to reconstruct bid connected nan campus," Johnson said Wednesday. "This is dangerous. This is not free expression. This is not First Amendment. They are threatening, intimidating." 

Watch much of nan question and reply pinch Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell astatine 10:30 a.m. Sunday connected "Face nan Nation." 

In:
• Mitch McConnell