MAGA Tears Into Columbia Over Graduation Move

MAGA Republicans have criticized Columbia University over the cancellation of its university-wide commencement ceremony after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests roiled the school.

A nationwide student protest movement against Israel's actions in Gaza began on Columbia's campus almost three weeks ago, before spreading to colleges across the country. Students have established tent encampments to demand their universities cut ties with Israel and divest their endowments from companies profiting from the war.

On May 6, Columbia officials said the past few weeks had been "incredibly difficult" for the community as it announced the cancellation of its larger graduation ceremony, a decision it said it came to after discussions with students.

Former President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans were among those who condemned Columbia's decision.

"That shouldn't happen," Trump told reporters Monday, outside the courtroom where his hush-money criminal trial is taking place. Newsweek has contacted a Trump spokesperson for comment via email.

Across the country, some universities have come to agreements with protest organizers to end demonstrations, while others—including Columbia—have called in police to dismantle the encampments, leading to mass arrests.

More than 2,500 people have been arrested, according to The Associated Press, since New York City police officers were first called to Columbia's campus on April 18 to disband the encampment and arrest more than 100 protesters. Police also entered Columbia's campus on April 30, hours after protesters defied a deadline set by the school to leave the encampment. Officers in riot gear swept the encampment and cleared people from Hamilton Hall, which had been occupied by protesters.

Columbia's graduation ceremony was scheduled to take place on May 15 on the south lawn of the Manhattan campus—where the protest encampment had been before it was dismantled. The university said students would be able to attend a series of smaller graduation ceremonies this week and next. Most of those ceremonies are set to take place at Columbia's sports complex, about 5 miles north of the campus.

House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement calling for the resignation of Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik.

"Now, thousands of students who've worked hard to achieve their degrees will not get the recognition they deserve," Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

He continued: "Because it is abundantly clear that President Shafik would rather cede control to Hamas supporters than restore order, Columbia's Board of Trustees should immediately remove her and appoint a new president who will. Our once great universities desperately need strong moral leadership, now more than ever."

"Imagine working for four years to earn a degree from what people used to consider a 'prestigious' school only to have a minority of Communist agitators ruin your celebration," Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert wrote on the platform. "This is what happens when the Radical Left takes control."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X that it was "sad and pathetic" that Columbia canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony.

He added: "Last week, I directed Florida's Colleges and Universities to ensure commencements were not canceled or disrupted. Our students deserve that, and we champion law and order in Florida."