Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced on Thursday that US universities promoting what he described as “antisemitic propaganda” could face losing their accreditation and federal funding if he wins the 2024 election. Speaking remotely to over 1,000 Republican Jewish Coalition donors in Las Vegas, Trump said, “Colleges will and must end the antisemitic propaganda, or they will lose their accreditation and federal support.” Crackdown on campus protests The remarks come in response to widespread protests on US college campuses against Israel’s military actions in Gaza earlier this year. Many student groups demanded that universities cut ties with businesses supporting Israel. While protest groups argue that their criticisms are directed at Israeli policies, Republicans have accused Democrats of fostering antisemitism by supporting these protests. Trump also mentioned that if elected, he would impose stricter measures, including banning refugee resettlement from “terror-infested” regions like Gaza and arresting “pro-Hamas thugs” involved in vandalism on campuses—a clear reference to the student protesters. University response and Middle Eastern policy While Trump did not outline a detailed Middle East policy, he …