Holding his first campaign rallies since his criminal trial in Manhattan began, former President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday urged college presidents to take a tougher approach to protests over the war in Gaza that have swept across campuses and praised police action at the demonstrations.
Calling protesters “raging lunatics” and suggesting without any evidence that they were hired by liberal groups to draw attention away from the surge of migrants at the border, Mr. Trump commended New York City police officers who, in riot gear, arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University and cleared a building that they had occupied.
Speaking to supporters in Waukesha, Wis., Mr. Trump called for similar actions at universities across the country.
“To every college president, I say remove the encampments immediately,” he said.
“Vanquish the locals and take back our campuses for all of the normal students.”
Persons:
Donald J, Trump, ”, “
Organizations:
Wednesday, New York City, Columbia University
Locations:
Manhattan, Gaza, Waukesha, Wis