University of Washington under scrutiny by Trump administration for anti-Israel protests

The Trump administration has disclosed that it is investigating the anti-Israel demonstration that took place at the University of Washington on Monday. During the protest, students took over an engineering building and ignited two dumpsters, leading to the arrest of 30 individuals by police in riot gear. 

The Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, an entity established by President Donald Trump in February, has stated that it is assessing the “outbreak of anti-Semitic intimidation and aggression” that occurred at the Seattle campus. Despite this, the task force commended the university for its prompt reaction and forceful denunciation of the protesters’ behavior.

The task force emphasized that the university needs to take further steps to discourage future acts of violence and ensure the safety and conducive learning environment for Jewish students. It also called on UW to implement measures and changes in policies to prevent a recurrence of the disorderly incidents. 

The Trump administration has announced it is investigating the anti-Israel protest at the University of Washington Monday where students occupied an engineering building and set two dumpsters on fire before police in riot gear moved in and arrested 30 people.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty, left, x/@choeshow, right.)

She also denounced the group’s statement celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.

“The university will not be intimidated by this sort of horrific and destructive behavior and will not engage in dialogue with any group using or condoning such destructive tactics,” Cauce said in a statement. “We will continue our actions to oppose antisemitism, racism and all forms of biases so that ALL our students, faculty, staff and visitors can feel safe and welcome on our campuses.”

The task force is now investigating more than 60 universities for reportedly failing to address antisemitism on campus. As a result of these investigations, seven institutions — Harvard, Brown, Cornell, Northwestern, Columbia, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania — have already had their funding reduced.

Harvard University is facing the suspension of over $2 billion in federal grants for its handling of on-campus protests. (Getty Images | iStock)

“No institution that tolerates violence, harassment, or the open intimidation of Jewish students should expect to receive billions in taxpayer support,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement. “This isn’t about politics—it’s about whether a federally funded university is upholding the law, protecting civil rights, and fostering a safe environment for all students.”

After occupying the building on Monday, the protesters erected a banner reading “Sha’ban Al-Dalou Building,” symbolically renaming it after a 19-year-old Palestinian man from Gaza who was killed during the bombing of the Al-Aqsa Hospital on Oct. 14, 2024. Israel said it targeted a Hamas command center embedded in the facility. 

The group is planning another protest on Thursday at 1 p.m. local time in front of Gerberding Hall on the campus in support of those arrested.