Most Jewish Americans oppose Trump's university funding cuts over antisemitism, poll shows

"By nearly 3 to 1, American Jews believe that Trump is using antisemitism as an "excuse" to "penalize and tax college campuses," according to the poll released Tuesday by Ipsos in collaboration with social and political scientists at UC Berkeley and the University of Rochester. Bruce Fuller, a sociologist at UC Berkeley who co-authored the survey, said he was somewhat surprised that 72% of Jewish Americans considered Trump's use of antisemitism as an "excuse" to punish universities."

""It appears that the Jewish community is growing even more skeptical and critical of deploying antisemitism as the rationale" for federal funding cuts to universities, Fuller said. Since taking office, Trump has been intent on forcing elite universities to adhere to his agenda. Accusing universities of failing to address alleged antisemitism on campus, the president has targeted several vaunted institutions - Harvard University and Columbia University among them - with massive penalties largely centered on cuts to federal research grants."

A national poll of 1,166 Jewish adults showed a strong majority are concerned about antisemitism on college campuses but disagree with President Trump's methods. By nearly 3-to-1, respondents believe Trump is using antisemitism as an 'excuse' to penalize and tax college campuses; 72% held that view. UC Berkeley sociologist Bruce Fuller said the Jewish community is growing more skeptical and critical of deploying antisemitism as the rationale for federal funding cuts to universities. Trump has targeted elite institutions, including Harvard, Columbia and UCLA, with threats to withhold billions in federal research grants and seeks overhauls of campus practices.

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