Donald Trump has strongly rebuked the pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University after they barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall and caused "tremendous" damage.
Speaking to Fox News' Sean Hannity on Tuesday, the former president also praised New York City police for removing dozens of people protesting the war in Gaza from the academic building, which was the scene of student anti-war protests in 1968.
"New York City's finest have been incredible, the way they walked in and the way they climbed through that window, they were not afraid of anything," Trump said.
"But it should never have gotten to this, they should have done it a lot sooner than before they took over the building because it would have been a lot easier if they were in tents rather than a building," he added. "And tremendous damage done too, when you look at that building, that's a landmark, and it's really been damaged badly by these people."
The Context
Students at Columbia University have been protesting Israel's attacks on Gaza amid its war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas by setting encampments on campus. Similar encampment protests against the war have also emerged at campuses across the country, including Yale, Harvard and the University of Texas at Austin.
On Tuesday, NYPD officers in riot gear entered Columbia University to clear out the protesters who had occupied Hamilton Hall.
In a statement, Columbia University said they had "no choice" but to call officers to the scene at Hamilton Hall amid reports the building had been "vandalized."
What We Know
Elsewhere during his interview with Hannity, Trump spread unsubstantiated claims that the protesters at Columbia University are "paid agitators."
"When you see signs and they're all identical, that means they're being paid by a source," Trump said. "These aren't hand-painted signs where people would go to their basement and paint something because they really believe it, these are all signs that are identical, they're made by the same printer.
"When you see that, that means somebody at the top that's paying, or a group that's paying."
New York Mayor Eric Adams also claimed during a Tuesday press conference that the protests had been "co-opted by professional outside agitators" without going into further detail.
"It is our belief they are now actively co-opting what should be a peaceful gathering," Adams said. "This is to serve their own agenda. They are not here to promote peace or unity or allow a peaceful displaying of one voice but they are here to create discord and divisiveness."
NYPD spokesman Carlos Nieves said there have been no immediate reports of any injuries after officers cleared out Hamilton Hall and arrested protesters.
Those who barricaded themselves inside the building face charges of third-degree burglary, trespassing and criminal mischief.
Views
A Columbia University spokesperson said: "The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing.
"We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law."
Angry Staffer, a popular political social media account, posted on X, formerly Twitter, while sharing a clip of Trump's remarks: "There's no bottom to the GOP. Where was this kind of outrage on January 6?
"To be clear: they're both wrong, but this isn't in the same stratosphere of wrong as January 6."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
