Former President Trump blamed President Biden for the cancelation of college graduations during the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests, saying the president is too weak to demand law and order.
“Corrupt Joe Biden is entirely to blame for these vulnerable colleges, like Columbia University, cancelling the graduations for thousands of students!” Trump posted on Truth Social just after midnight EDT Thursday. “Corrupt Joe is giving in to the Far-Left Pro-Terrorist Mobs due to his donors funding them, and he is too WEAK to demand LAW AND ORDER!”
Columbia University — which was at the center of the now-nationwide college protest movement — called off its main graduation ceremony, citing “security concerns” after weeks of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. University of Southern California (USC) also called off its main ceremony amid criticism over its decision to cancel its pro-Palestinian valedictorian’s speech.
In both cases, the decision to cancel was made by the schools’ leadership, not Biden or his administration.
Trump, the GOP’s presumed presidential nominee, has often criticized what he sees as weakness from Biden as the two get ready for a showdown in November’s general election.
The former president expressed sadness that students and parents will be “deprived” of an important milestone.
“So now young people, who have worked very hard, and their parents, who have paid thousands of dollars to send their kids to school, are being deprived of one of the most important moments of their lives. Such a shame, and totally avoidable!!! MAGA 2024!” he wrote.
The Hill contacted the White House for comment.
Protests demanding a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza have continued for more than three weeks, with demonstrators urging universities and the U.S. government to sever ties with Israel. More than 1,000 protestors — students, faculty and others — have been arrested since the first major encampment began at Columbia last month.
Many of the protests are said to be peaceful, but rising tensions and the continuation of encampments and building takeovers have led several colleges to call in law enforcement. School administrators argue that the encampments and building takeovers disrupt campus activities and raise safety concerns for students, particularly those who are Jewish.
Biden last week defended the right to peacefully protest while also condemning the vandalism and trespassing occurring at some demonstrations.
“In times like this, there are always those who rush to make political gains. But this is not a time for politics,” Biden said in prepared remarks from the White House last week. “It’s a time for clarity. So let me be clear … violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is.”
Biden also denounced the antisemitism that has been reported during the protests, although many protest groups reject the characterization of their demonstrations as antisemitic and emphasize the participation of Jewish students in them.
He said there should not be any place on any campus, or in America, for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students. He also stated that there is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, and discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans. He emphasized that it is simply not right.
