President Donald Trump implied on Tuesday that he personally ordered the arrest of a Columbia University graduate student due to his participation in an anti-Israel protest, raising concerns over political targeting in law enforcement actions.
During a press gaggle, Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump whether the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a U.S. permanent resident with a green card, signaled further deportations of protesters.
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“I think we ought to get them all out of the country,” Trump responded, referring to the protesters. “They’re troublemakers. They’re agitators. They don’t love our country. We ought to get them the hell out.”
Trump doubled down on his remarks regarding Khalil specifically, citing his statements at the protest as justification for removal from the U.S. “I heard his statements, too,” Trump said of the Palestinian student. “They were plenty bad. And I think we ought to get him the hell out of the country. I watched him. I watched tapes. Specifically, I watched tapes.”
The comments sparked immediate backlash, with critics arguing that the president’s remarks suggested a direct influence over law enforcement actions, particularly when tied to an individual’s political views. Shifting gears during the same press gaggle, Trump praised Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose electric vehicles were prominently displayed at the White House.
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“You should cherish him,” Trump said, lauding Musk’s contributions. “We have to take care of our high IQ people because we don’t have too many of them.” Trump’s remarks further highlight his administration’s stance on protests, immigration policies, and his admiration for prominent business figures like Musk.
The political fallout from his comments regarding Khalil’s arrest is expected to continue as legal experts and civil rights advocates weigh in on the implications of presidential involvement in individual legal matters.
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