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Former President Trump slammed Columbia University for closing its field amid convulsive anti-Israel, pro-Gaza protests, urging nan assemblage to "gain a small strength" and "courage," while saying nan move "means nan different broadside wins."
Trump took newsman questions successful Trump Tower connected Tuesday evening earlier a gathering pinch former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is nan existent vice president of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY MOVES TO HYBRID LEARNING ON MAIN CAMPUS AMID ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS
The erstwhile president and presumptive 2024 Republican statesmanlike nominee was asked if he would sojourn pinch Jewish students this week amid protests, pursuing nan news that House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to sojourn Columbia University’s field Wednesday.
Anti-Israel protesters stitchery connected nan field of Columbia University successful New York City connected April 23, 2024. Tensions flared betwixt pro-Palestinian student protesters and schoolhouse administrators astatine respective US universities connected April 22, arsenic in-person classes were cancelled and demonstrators arrested. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
"Well, we person a batch of different things, but what’s going connected pinch nan colleges—and, they’re closing Columbia now? I mean, it’s conscionable crazy," Trump said. "Columbia should summation a small strength, a small courageousness and support their schoolhouse open."
Trump’s comments came aft students astatine Columbia University were instructed that classes had shifted to virtual aliases hybrid amid ongoing information concerns stemming from nan anti-Israel protests filling nan campus.
"It’s crazy because that intends nan different broadside wins," Trump said Tuesday. "When you commencement closing down colleges and universities—that intends nan different broadside [wins.]"
Anti-Israel agitators conception an encampment on Columbia University’s field successful New York City connected Monday, April 22, 2024. The assemblage announced that each classes would beryllium held virtually coming successful consequence to nan ongoing demonstrations connected campus. (Peter Gerber)
The erstwhile president, pointing to Aso and Japan said "in Japan, they don’t cognize astir that. They don’t close. They support it open. They make it work."
"The group moving Columbia person made a sedate mistake," Trump said.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS: 5 DRAMATIC MOMENTS FROM A WEEK OF CHAOS
Columbia University’s updated guidelines, arsenic of Tuesday morning, said each courses connected nan Morningside main field person moved to hybrid learning "until nan extremity of each school’s Spring 2024 semester."
"Safety is our highest privilege arsenic we strive to support our students’ learning and each nan required world operations," nan school's Provost Angela Olinto wrote successful a connection released early Tuesday morning. "It’s captious that school and learning proceed during this time."
NYPD officers patrol arsenic anti-Israel agitators show extracurricular of Columbia University’s field successful New York City connected Thursday, April 18, 2024. Multiple students were arrested arsenic officers cleared an encampment connected nan campus’ lawn. (Peter Gerber for Fox News Digital)
IVY LEAGUE ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS' PROTESTS SPIRAL INTO 'ACTUAL TERROR ORGANIZATION,' PROFESSOR WARNS
The announcement comes amid continued antisemitic protests connected the New York City campus and conscionable a time aft classes were made virtual connected Monday.
The guidance, signed successful tandem pinch Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway, besides affects module and staff.
The guidance comes amid days of protests astatine Columbia, wherever anti-Israel agitators initially formed an encampment — mounting up tents and refusing to leave— connected nan field past week. The protesters person marched successful and astir nan field demanding nan schoolhouse suffer affiliations pinch groups that support Israel amid its warfare pinch Hamas successful Gaza, which has resulted successful tens of thousands of civilian deaths.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ORDERS VIRTUAL CLASSES AS ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS TAKE OVER: 'WE NEED A RESET'
Columbia University President Dr. Nemat "Minouche" Shafik said successful a connection posted successful nan early hours Monday morning, that she was "deeply saddened" by definite actions of nan agitators and called for a "reset."
Anti-Israel protesters chanted and demonstrated Thursday, April 17, 2024, astatine Columbia University. (bxantiwar via Storyful)
"I americium profoundly saddened by what is happening connected our campus," Shafik wrote. "Our bonds arsenic a organization person been severely tested successful ways that will return a awesome woody of clip and effort to reaffirm. Students crossed an array of communities person conveyed fears for their information and we person announced further actions we are taking to reside information concerns. The decibel of our disagreements has only accrued successful caller days. These tensions person been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated pinch Columbia who person travel to field to prosecute their ain agendas."
DEMOCRATIC REP GOTTHEIMER SAYS HE WOULD BE WORRIED TO SEND CHILDREN TO COLUMBIA AFTER VISITING PROTESTS
Shafik, connected Monday, said nan university needs "a reset."
More than 100 of nan protesters were arrested past week amid nan unrest.
Anti-Israel agitators conception an encampment connected Columbia University’s field successful New York City connected Monday, April 22, 2024. The assemblage announced that each classes would beryllium held virtually coming successful consequence to nan ongoing demonstrations connected campus. (Peter Gerber)
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Antisemitic protests person surgery retired astatine colleges and universities crossed nan federation including New York University successful New York City and Yale University successful New Haven, Ct.
Fox News' Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.
Brooke Singman is simply a governmental analogous and newsman for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and FOX Business.
