Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night slammed a Jewish lawmaker who accused New York police of “abandoning” Israel when they removed a pro-terrorism group from Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall.
Trump, 77, called into Fox News’ Hannity during a live broadcast of the NYPD operation and said, “I’m watching Jewish politicians abandon Israel.”
“And I saw it, and you saw it too. Where is it? [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer? Why isn’t Schumer speaking out? ” asked the former president and potential 2024 Republican nominee.
“I think it’s because he’s looking at the votes. And maybe he’s going after more votes than representing Israel, but it has nothing to do with that. We have to stop the war on terrorists. No need.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams told reporters Wednesday morning that 109 people were arrested in Columbia overnight, but it was unclear how many of them were taken from Hamilton Hall.
Schumer, 73, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States, condemned the protests on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon.
“Breaking a window with a hammer or occupying a university building is not free speech, it is a tort, and those who do it deserve more than just a slap on the wrist.” he said.
Schumer’s comments come after several Republicans, including Rockland County Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), called him “unconscionably cowardly in response to anti-Semitic protests” on Monday. ”, he criticized.
Schumer last month publicly called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an obstacle to peace and called on U.S. allies to hold new elections as soon as possible after the war with Hamas ends.
On Tuesday night, President Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that protesters would excuse or deny Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people, including 33 Americans. He suggested that he may have been “brainwashed” by doing so.
“Many people, many people protesting, deny that October 7th happened,” he said. “October 7th really happened. And it was horribly violent and shameful. And it has to stop. There can be no such thing.
“And when you have people who are protesting and they deny that October 7th happened…I really believe that in a way they are brainwashed, because the comments They say nothing like this happened.”
Later in the interview, President Trump again warned Israel to quickly end its operations against Hamas, saying, “What’s happening in Israel right now is also really not sustainable.
“We must force Israel to complete its war on terror,” he said. “It’s terrible, but they have to do it and they have to do it fast and we have to restore order. And people have to respect law and order in this country.”
A spokesperson for Schumer did not respond to a request for comment.
