CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings sparred with his fellow panelists Monday night as he defended President Donald Trump’s administration for detaining a noncitizen on a student visa who supported chaotic anti-Israel protests at Columbia University.
Mahmoud Khalil, who led anti-Israel protests and encampments on campus, was set to be deported over his actions that reportedly “aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,” though a Manhattan judge ruled Monday that he is not to be deported “unless and until a Court orders otherwise.” Jennings argued that the Trump administration has reasonable grounds to deport Khalil based on his actions on Columbia University’s campus.
“He’s a resident alien, he can be deported under U.S. law if the Secretary of State has any reasonable ground to believe he would have a potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequence. And you mentioned the student organization, the student organization, no, let me finish,” Jennings said as CNN host Abby Phillip began to interrupt.
“Before you move on, because I think that’s a really important point. That’s the statute that they’re using,” Phillip said. “Have you seen any evidence to suggest that there is a serious reason to believe that this student is going to be a threat to national security in our country?”
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Jennings said he had witnessed the “abomination” that took place at Columbia University in April 2024, where students occupied a building and forced Jewish students to flee campus for their own safety.
“I will tell you … yeah, I’ll tell you why it’s a threat to national security if you’ll let me answer you,” Jennings said. “Would you like me to answer you or not? His organization says ‘we are dedicated fighting for the total eradication of western civilization.’ He’s not a citizen and he doesn’t need to be here.”
Khalil was part of the Columbia University Apartheid Group, a student-led organization demanding that the university divest from Israel. While Jennings said that this organization caused a national security threat, his fellow panelists continuously interrupted him.
“He has viewpoints that in my opinion jeopardize the security of the United States,” Jennings continued. “He is obviously a radical who is here to foment violent against the United States government … I think these protests and the violence they have fomented and the intimidation and fear against the Jewish kids on these campuses is absolutely an act of insurrection against the United States.”
“And just, the irony of you saying it’s an act of insurrection against the United States when this president just pardoned people who actually conducted an insurrection against the United States is amazing to me,” Phillip said.
Dan Kon, previously a deputy cabinet secretary in former President Joe Biden’s White House, claimed Trump is using his own interpretation of “anti-American speech” to justify the deportation of Khalil. Jennings then argued that Trump needs to “stand up for the integrity” of the nation by protecting U.S. citizens and Jewish students.
Podcast host Van Lathan argued it is perfectly reasonable for people to occupy campuses in order to protest the deaths of children in Gaza. He disputed Jennings’ argument that these actions by the anti-Israel protesters were antisemitic.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested over 100 protesters who built encampments on the Ivy League university’s campus and demanded the school boycott divest and sanction Israel over its counteroffensive in Gaza following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack. The protesters seized the campuses’ Hamilton Hall on April 30, with one employee reportedly claiming to be held hostage inside the building.
As panelists attempted to discredit Trump’s reasoning, Jennings said that Khalil and his followers have “ruined people’s lives” and should be “deported” for the sake of national security. He further pushed back against panelist Ana Navarro, who claimed she had once protested against U.S. policy during former President Bill Clinton’s administration.
“Were you trying to eradicate western civilization? … Were you occupying buildings?” Jennings asked. “Were you fomenting violence? Were you inciting others engaging in violence? Were you chasing people around? Were you intimidating people? No.”
The Trump administration canceled about $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University due to its “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration said more cancellations could follow if the university did not take proper action.
After losing funding, Columbia said on Sunday it will prioritize fighting antisemitism and work alongside the Trump administration to address the problem.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday the U.S. has “zero tolerance” for any foreign visitor who supports terrorist organizations and will face deportation under U.S. law.
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