Trump’s threat to universities

President Donald Trump, congressional Republicans, and pro-Israel groups, like the Anti-Defamation League, have declared war on freedom of speech and assembly and the very idea of the university. Republicans and their allies are demanding universities eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion in admissions or programming, and established a distorted definition of antisemitism. They’ve told educational institutions that failing to bow to these diktats will result in losing federal funding.

While organizations representing faculty and administrators have cautioned against complying with the requirement to eliminate DEI, already some universities have done so. Dozens of institutions have scrubbed websites of now-taboo words and programs, closed offices that promote diversity, and canceled courses.

More ominous is the damage to free speech and academic freedom by administration and congressional threats to punish universities that don’t take measures against what they call “antisemitism.” Their edict’s main problem is that their bogus definition of antisemitism, long promoted by the ADL, that equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. They argue that criticizing Israel is antisemitic because it’s the only Jewish state and criticism of Israel is threatening to Jews who identify with it. The “logic” is, at best, far-fetched, at worst, a crude effort to silence and punish critics.

The ADL found eager accomplices among right-wing fundamentalist Christians, Republicans in Congress, and Donald Trump, though their reasons differ. But whether a marriage of convenience or consensus, the result is serious damage to higher education.

The ADL wants to silence critics of Israeli policies. Right-wing Christians, driven by a heretical view of the Old Testament that sees Israel as necessary for their hoped-for Final Days, want to protect Israel. Republicans and Trump want to appease this 40 per cent of their base. Because the earliest pro-Palestinian demonstrations occurred at prestigious universities, Republicans see this effort as amplifying their targeting of “liberal elites.” As critics of Israeli policies are largely Democrats, Republicans see defending Israel as a wedge issue. Trump sees criminalizing protesters and forcing universities to cower as another way to pave the road to authoritarianism.

These diverse interests coalesce in a coordinated assault on academic freedom, free speech, and critics of Israel. Early signs were evident during last year’s congressional hearings in which Ivy League university presidents were summonsed for a skewering by Republican members of Congress. The hearing’s most memorable moment involved a Republican representative, falsely claiming that “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was an antisemitic call for genocide against Jewish people, before shifting gears to ask the presidents whether calling for genocide against Jews was punished. The presidents, flummoxed by this illogical leap, gave confused responses.

In the midst of campus protests, the Republican Speaker of the House visited Columbia University, demanding a crackdown. Other Republicans joined in, pointing out that campuses were bastions of un-American liberal elitism and needed to be taught a lesson. A congressional committee threatened to cut federal funds if they didn’t stop protests, punish protesters, and rid their campuses of pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel activities and courses.

Pro-Israel groups were emboldened to file complaints with the Office of Civil Rights, charging administrators with turning a blind eye to faculty and student antisemitism. 

Amidst these challenges, the cowering began. During the summer of 2024: campuses brought in security consultants to rewrite faculty and student codes and handbooks; courses were eliminated; and faculty were silenced. Columbia even set up an office that encouraged students to file complaints against pro-Palestinian students and faculty.  

With Trump’s election, the pressures intensified. Columbia became a “whipping boy” for its prestigious status and demonstrated willingness to cower. Despite the university’s efforts, the Trump administration revoked $400 million in federal grants. Trump’s clear message was: “Do what I demand, or you'll be punished.” 

Then came the news that a Columbia graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil, the student protestors’ lead negotiator, was being deported for antisemitism despite no evidence that warranted the charge. 

The purpose is to create fear, silence criticism of Israel, and force the university, students and faculty to bend to authoritarianism. As widespread protests mount, it remains unclear if Trump’s deportation order will succeed or backfire. But the damage has been done—to free speech, and to the very idea of academic freedom, a hallmark of American education.

The writer is president of the Washington-based Arab American Institute