Rick Scott calls to federally defund universities that hire ‘terrorist supporters,’ names Columbia

TAMPA, Fla. – Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called for federally defunding universities that hire “terrorist supporters” in the wake of a report that Columbia University had hired a professor who “endorsed Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”

Scott also called out his opponent, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, as well as President Joe Biden, citing inaction and lack of response.

“Any college or university that hires terrorist supporters who hate our country should not receive another dime of taxpayer dollars, starting with @Columbia,” Scott said on social media.

“This is exactly why I led the Stop Anti-Semitism on College Campuses Act with @SenatorTimScott, which would keep these institutions from supporting or hiring these evil people if they want federal funding,” he added.

According to the Washington Free Beacon, the “visiting professor” at Columbia had voiced support for Hamas.

Scott campaign spokesperson Will Hampson highlighted Mucarsel-Powell’s reluctance to condemn the actions in a statement.

“Sympathizing with terrorists has become a platform of the Democrat Party. Joe Biden, AOC, Ilhan Omar, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell are weak cowards for standing with the pro-terrorist mobs,” Hampson said.

“Them standing by, or even proudly cheering, as Jewish students are being threatened and Democrat voters call for more terrorism against the Jewish people is despicable,” he added. “They are so afraid of upsetting their antisemitic voter base that they are abandoning their Jewish constituents.

“Congresswoman Mucarsel-Powell, who seemingly loves to talk about ‘threats to democracy,’ is silent. If her standing silent in the face of calls for terrorism and extermination isn’t disqualifying, then what is?” he asked.

Israeli and Palestinian tensions have risen on college campuses all across the U.S., but particularly at Ivy League schools, in recent months, following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israelis in 2023.

The latest Emerson poll has Scott beating Mucarsel-Powell by seven points, and a poll from Florida Atlantic University has him up by double digits.