In a competition of hawkish messages on Israel, Ron DeSantis pledged on Friday night to revoke the student visas of Hamas sympathizers if elected president, while Tim Scott said he would withhold Pell grants from universities that failed to stamp out antisemitism.
At an Iowa showcase featuring most of the top Republican presidential contenders, the Florida governor and the South Carolina senator engaged in one-upmanship about who would best support Israel, America’s closest Middle East ally.
“You see students demonstrating in our country in favor of Hamas,” Mr. DeSantis said.
“Remember, some of them are foreigners.”Mr. DeSantis then warned that if he became president, “I’m canceling your visa and I’m sending you home.”His remarks, during a tailgate at a construction plant in Iowa City, echoed recent talking points of former President Donald J. Trump, the G.O.P.
front-runner, and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken this week urging him to rescind the visas of “Hamas sympathizers.”Mr. Trump, who did not attend the event, had issued a similar pledge to expel student sympathizers of Hamas.
Persons:
Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Pell, “, ” Mr, DeSantis, Mr, ”, Donald J, Trump, Marco Rubio, Antony J
Organizations:
Republican, South, Israel, Republicans
Locations:
Israel, Iowa, Florida, South Carolina, America’s, Iowa City, Marco Rubio of Florida