The second Trump admin isn’t playing it safe anymore. They’re accomplishing what they want, whether D.C. likes it or not.
That’s why the White House Press Secretary caused an uproar with this five word announcement.
Trump Administration Signals Tough Stance on Pro-Hamas Foreign Nationals with Arrest of Syrian-Born Protest Leader
The White House is sending a clear message: foreign nationals who align themselves with terrorist organizations like Hamas will face severe consequences under the Trump administration. On Tuesday evening, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox News’ Hannity and announced that the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a 30-year-old Syrian-born individual accused of leading a violent pro-Hamas protest, marks only the beginning of a wider crackdown. “So this arrest that took place on the campus of Columbia is the first of many to come,” Leavitt declared, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to such activities.
Khalil’s arrest unfolded on Saturday evening when officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detained him, as reported by the Associated Press. The move came after his involvement in a disruptive student encampment at Columbia University in April 2024, where he emerged as a key figure. A graduate of Columbia, Khalil had been attending the prestigious institution on an F-1 visa at the time of the incident. According to authorities, his green card has since been revoked, and he now faces accusations of engaging in “activities aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.”
During the Fox News segment, host Sean Hannity pressed Leavitt on how someone like Khalil could assume he has the right to remain in the United States while supporting a group like Hamas. Leavitt didn’t mince words in her response. “Everything you just said is true, Sean, and, unfortunately, it appears the liberals in the legacy media think that if you are a foreign national, you can behave in any manner that you want,” she said. “You can protest and push Hamas propaganda. You can side with a foreign terrorist organization that has k*lled American citizens, that has m*rdered innocent babies, men, women, and children across the globe. Under this administration, that type of activity, siding with radical Islamic terrorists, will not stand.”
Leavitt pointed to a decisive shift in policy under President Trump, emphasizing that his administration is acting on an executive order to enforce strict measures against foreign nationals who misuse the privilege of studying in the United States. “The Trump administration, at the direction of President Trump’s executive order, has a zero-tolerance policy for foreign nationals who are given the privilege of getting a visa and going to some of our nation’s finest universities and colleges, studying at those institutions, and then siding with these radical terrorist organizations,” she explained.
Khalil’s role in the Columbia University protests last year painted a vivid picture of his activities. As the “lead negotiator” for a student group behind an illegal encampment, he helped orchestrate actions that culminated in the occupation of a school building and property damage. Speaking to reporters at the time, Khalil identified himself as a student on an F-1 visa, a status that has since unraveled with the revocation of his green card.
The administration’s response extends beyond Khalil’s individual case. Leavitt revealed that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are collaborating to investigate other students involved in pro-Hamas protests. She stressed that Rubio has the legal authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to revoke visas of individuals deemed a threat to national interests.
“Secretary Rubio revoked this individual’s visa based on the Immigration and Nationality Act because this individual clearly poses an adversarial effect consequence to the foreign policy and national interests of our great country,” Leavitt said. “This was the right decision. President Trump promised he would stand up for Jewish-American students, and he is delivering on that promise.”
Rubio echoed this sentiment in a post on X following Khalil’s arrest, writing, “We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.” The administration’s firm stance, however, has met resistance. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Jesse Furman ordered DHS to refrain from deporting Khalil until a lawsuit challenging his detention is reviewed, leaving the activist in custody for now.
The arrest has sparked a wave of reaction. On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters rallied in New York City’s Washington Square in support of Khalil, with CBS News reporting that an unspecified number were arrested by authorities. The demonstration signals ongoing tensions surrounding the administration’s policies and their enforcement.
Leavitt took a final swipe at critics during her Fox News appearance, addressing what she described as a misunderstanding by mainstream media. “Secretary Noem and Secretary of State Rubio are working together, and I would like to add and emphasize to the mainstream media, who still doesn’t get it, this is well within the president’s and the secretary of state’s authority,” she asserted. For the Trump administration, Khalil’s arrest is not an isolated incident but the opening salvo in a campaign to uphold national security and protect American interests.
The Conservative Column will update you on any further updates from the Trump administration.
