Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) applauded the Trump administration’s decision to cancel $400 million in federal grants for Columbia University over Gaza protests.
In a post on Twitter, Fetterman, who has angered liberal Democrats with his staunchly pro-Israel stance, slammed the university’s leadership and called pro-Palestinian protesters “assholes.”
“Columbia let antisemitism run amok to cater to lunatic fringe and paid provocateurs,” Fetterman wrote.
“Leadership allowed those assholes to take over the campus and terrorize Jewish students,” he added. “Now, Columbia pays for its failure and I support that.”
College campuses across the country have erupted with protests last year over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Columbia made national headlines when pro-Palestinian demonstrators set up an encampment and went on to occupy a campus building, leading to arrests.
“Universities must comply with all federal antidiscrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. “For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer.”
