Identity of Speakers
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Donald Trump
Unaffiliated
OtherPresident of the United States
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Right wing -
Incident Responses:
Title IX or other federal statute
Other
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal Court of Appeals
Other
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
On January 29, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14188, titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” aimed at addressing antisemitism in educational institutions, particularly colleges and universities. The order directed federal agencies to identify and act against campus antisemitism, focusing in part on non-citizen students and staff. Though the order did not explicitly mandate deportations, a prior fact sheet suggested possible immigration enforcement against “Hamas sympathizers” and “pro-jihadist” protesters, raising constitutional concerns.
Following the order, the U.S. Department of Education launched investigations into multiple universities, including Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, UC Berkeley, and the University of Minnesota, citing failures to protect Jewish students from harassment. Over 55 additional institutions were monitored or investigated. In March 2025, Columbia University faced the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants due to alleged inadequate responses to antisemitism. These measures have generated controversy over their impact on campus free speech and academic freedom.
The executive order also sparked legal challenges. In March 2025, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student organizer at Columbia, was arrested by ICE under circumstances criticized as violating First Amendment protections. Subsequently, lawsuits were filed arguing that the order and related enforcement actions infringed on constitutional rights.
In July 2025, university leaders from Georgetown, CUNY, and UC Berkeley testified before a House Committee hearing focused on combating antisemitism. While lawmakers emphasized the need to address campus radicalism, university representatives stressed the importance of balancing antisemitism prevention with preserving academic freedom.
