Trump's Executive Order to Combat Anti-Semitism: Supporters of Hamas Will Be Expelled

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, signed an executive order to combat anti-Semitism in America. According to the White House website, the executive order states that "decisive and unprecedented steps will be taken to utilize all federal resources in the fight against the rise of anti-Semitism on campuses and streets in America since October 6 of last year." On this day, Hamas militants, a terrorist group supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking over 250 hostages to Gaza. Among the hostages were infants and the elderly. The U.S. President mandated all federal ministers and agency heads to review all existing criminal and civil authorities and actions to combat anti-Semitism within 60 days and report back to the White House. He also announced that the Department of Justice would quickly take actions to "maintain law and order, combat vandalism and intimidation by Hamas supporters, and investigate and punish anti-Semitic racism in leftist and anti-American universities." Trump's executive order also calls for the expulsion of foreign nationals who violate U.S. laws. He wrote: "Immediately following the terrorist attacks against the people of Israel, foreign supporters of Hamas and leftist radicals began a campaign of intimidation, vandalism, and violence on campuses and streets in America." Trump stated: "They physically prevented Jewish students from attending classes by celebrating Hamas's assaults, kidnappings, and murders, blocking synagogue entrances, attacking worshippers, and vandalizing American statues and monuments." He accused the Biden administration of "remaining silent in the face of these coordinated attacks against public order and failing to protect the civil rights of American Jews, especially students." A number of students supporting Palestinian groups occupied a building at Columbia University in New York in protest against the war in Gaza earlier this year. The executive order mentions that according to a report from about two months ago by the U.S. Congress on anti-Semitism, "the failure of federal departments and agencies is astonishing." Trump continued to emphasize that he "delivers on his promises and expands his successes," noting that he fulfilled key promises during his first term. "The transfer of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, the true and legal capital of Israel," and "the signing of the Abraham Accords through mediation between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco," which "achieved the greatest progress in Middle Eastern peace in decades and spread security and prosperity throughout the region." He emphasized in his executive order the "support for the civil rights of Jewish citizens" and added: "My promise to American Jews is this: With your vote, I will be your defender and supporter and the best friend that American Jews have ever had in the White House." "The decisive enforcement of law and prosecution of anti-Semitic crimes" was another promise from Trump, stating: "I will direct the Attorney General to seriously prosecute terrorist threats, arson, vandalism, and violence against American Jews." The U.S. President reiterated the "expulsion of Hamas supporters and the cancellation of their student visas," writing: "To all foreign nationals who participated in jihad-supporting protests, we warn you: in 2025, we will identify and expel you." He emphasized: "I will cancel the student visas of all Hamas supporters in universities, who have never been this radical before." The United States, the European Union, Israel, and many other countries and international organizations consider Hamas a terrorist group.