Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed concern over the treatment of pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University, comparing their actions to the rioters who stormed the US Capitol in January 2021. Trump, speaking outside a Manhattan courtroom where his hush money trial is ongoing, questioned whether the Columbia protesters would face the same consequences as those involved in the Capitol attack.
“I think I can give you the answer right now,” Trump said. “And that’s why people have lost faith in our court system.”
Trump’s remarks highlight his efforts to downplay the severity of the Capitol riot and shift focus to left-wing violence. He has previously referred to the Capitol rioters as “unbelievable patriots” and suggested he would consider pardons for them if he were to win a second term.
As Trump navigates multiple criminal cases and campaigns for a return to the White House, his comments serve to reinforce his narrative of being a target of political persecution by a corrupt justice system.
Legal experts and political analysts have pointed out the differences between the Capitol riot and the Columbia protests, noting that the latter does not pose a threat to the democratic process. The protests at Columbia and other campuses are aimed at advocating for Palestinian rights and calling for universities to cut ties with Israel.
While some of the recent campus protests have turned violent, with clashes between students and police resulting in arrests, the demonstrations do not equate to an insurrection targeting government authority.
Trump’s comparison of the Columbia protests to past instances of right-wing violence continues to fuel debate over the definition of insurrection and the perception of political unrest in the United States. The ongoing tensions on college campuses reflect a broader societal divide over issues of free speech, activism, and political ideology.