President of Columbia University resigned in response to Trump’s intensified measures against pro-Palestinian activism
Columbia University's interim president resigned on Friday, marking the second leadership exit at the institution. This follows the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activities, which led her to endorse significant policy changes at the Ivy League school.
Katrina Armstrong has stepped down from her position with immediate effect. In her place, journalist Claire Shipman, who currently serves as the chair of the school’s board, has been appointed as the new interim president.
Armstrong has assumed the position previously held by Minouche Shafik, who vacated her role as president of the university in August.
Armstrong stepped down merely a week following the institution’s agreement to a set of demands from the Trump administration, aimed at initiating discussions to restore access to $400 million in research funding that had been frozen due to accusations of anti-Semitic activities on campus.
The joint task force spearheaded by Trump to address anti-Semitism welcomed Armstrong’s resignation, stating it marked “an important step toward advancing negotiations as set forth in the pre-conditional understanding reached last Friday.”
The Trump administration has consistently criticized the university’s leadership, alleging insufficient action in tackling “anti-Semitism” amid large-scale student protests on campus against Israeli forces’ perceived aggressive actions towards Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Trump administration has issued warnings to no fewer than 60 academic institutions regarding potential penalties, due to ongoing investigations into alleged “anti-Semitism on college campuses.”
Columbia University is under multiple federal investigations, emerging as a key target in Trump’s immigration enforcement measures aimed at pro-Palestinian student activists.
Mahmoud Khalil, a former graduate student from Columbia University and a green card holder, is presently in custody under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In recent weeks, the U.S. State Department has initiated the deportation of several Columbia University students holding visas, citing purported “pro-Hamas” sentiments. Furthermore, the university has verified the presence of Department of Homeland Security agents on its campus.
Armstrong has become the fourth leader from an Ivy League institution to step down under pressure from Republican scrutiny regarding the universities’ handling of pro-Palestinian student activism. This resignation mirrors recent departures of the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, who also faced significant examination from the House education committee.
Armstrong is set to resume her former role as the head of Columbia’s Irving Medical Center located in New York City.
