DeSantis wants university presidents to lose their jobs over testimony on antisemitism

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis said he hopes the university presidents who could not in plain terms condemn calls for the genocide of Jews as violating the policies at their respective universities lose their positions.

“It was all a big fraud that they were perpetuating on the public, and I hope they’re all held accountable and lose their jobs,” he said on Newsmax.

The governor’s comments come after former University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned after her testimony, where she did not say unequivocally calling for the genocide of Jews would violate her school’s policies.

New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik grilled presidents from Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the question.

Pro-Hamas and anti-Israel protests have ramped up nationwide on campuses. A common phrase among pro-Palestinian protestors is “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which colloquially necessitates the eradication of the Jewish state by any means necessary.

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“In those institutions – what they’re doing to indoctrinate these kids… they’re talking about, it’s OK to say genocide of Jews because they believe in free speech,” DeSantis said. “Yet, they will fire staff members who articulate normal conservative positions on garden variety issues.”

At the congressional hearing, Stefanik scathed the presidents for not giving direct “yes” or “no” answers on whether calling for such genocide constitutes a policy violation in the form of bullying or harassment.

“If the speech turns into conduct, it can be harassment, yes,” Magill told Stefanik.

“I am asking, specifically calling for the genocide of Jews – does that constitute bullying or harassment?” Stefanik said.

“If it is directed and severe or pervasive, it is harassment,” the former Penn president replied.

In another instance, the president of Harvard, who is increasingly being pressured to resign as well, told Stefanik, “It can be [in violation], depending on the context.”

“What’s the context?” Stefanik snapped back. “It’s targeted at individuals.”

“Antisemitic rhetoric, when it crosses into conduct, that amounts to bullying, harassment, intimidation – that is actionable conduct, and we do take action,” Harvard President Claudine Gay said.

Stefanik told Gay that the lack of a “yes” or “no” answer is why Gay should resign.

In the aftermath of the testimonies, Stefanik has called for the two presidents, Gay and MIT President Sally Kornbluth, to resign.

“As clear evidence of the vastness of the moral rot at every level of these schools, this earthquake has revealed that @Harvard and @MIT are totally unable to grasp this grave question of moral clarity at this historic moment as the world is watching in horror and disgust,” Stefanik said Monday. “It is pathetic and abhorrent. The leadership at these universities is totally unfit and untenable.”