In recent weeks, many major universities have been overtaken by loud and sometimes violent anti-Israel demonstrations.

However, police in New York and Los Angeles have since begun making arrests, a move which former President Donald Trump is cheering. 

Trump praises officers for being "incredible"

"I'm so proud of New York's finest. They're great, great people, too," Breitbart quoted Trump as saying in a statement on Thursday.

"I know so many of them. They're incredible. They did a job at Columbia. And likewise, in Los Angeles, they did a really good job at UCLA," he continued.

Former US President Donald Trump, weighing in on the anti-Gaza war protests at US universities, denounced 'the radical left morons' and thanked the police officers who cracked down on protesters at UCLA and Columbia. pic.twitter.com/es2rPpyix1

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 2, 2024

According to Fox News, police arrested 300 people at Columbia University earlier this week while over 130 arrests were also made when police cleared out an anti-Israel encampment at UCLA.

Former president says antisemitism is coming "from the left"

"This is a movement from the left, not from the right. The right is not the problem despite what law enforcement likes to say," Trump declared.

"The FBI director said that he worries about the right. Don't worry about the right; the right is fine. Worry about the left because this is a movement from the left," he insisted.

"These are radical left lunatics, and they gotta be stopped now because it's gonna go on and on, and it's gonna get worse and worse," Trump warned.

"And, you know, they take over countries, okay, and we’re not letting them take over the USA. We’re not letting the radical left morons take over this country," he pledged.

Some Democrats fear a backlash over protests

Breitbart noted that the ongoing disorder associated with anti-Israel protests has some Democrats worried about a backlash.

They include one House Democrat who spoke with Axios on the condition of anonymity and said that the demonstrations are "bringing out [the public's] most conservative side."

"The longer they continue, and the worse that they get, the worse it's going to be for the election overall," the lawmaker continued before adding, "Many people are super frustrated and concerned."

Meanwhile, New Hampshire Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster complained, "It's complicated enough for us with the range of opinions and height of emotions we have, without weighing in on what [colleges] should be doing."