Latest news with #Islamaphobia
USA Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
No, Trump did not propose a 6-month school year, as TikTok videos claim
Videos circulating on social media claim President Donald Trump is shortening the school year to six months, but it isn't true. Several videos on TikTok, some amassing tens of thousands of likes and forwards, claim that Trump has proposed the cut due to post-COVID disrupted education. "Breaking news in a shocking and highly controversial statement," a news anchor style voice says over one of the videos, which features a breaking news headline and news clips of Trump and children. "President Donald Trump has proposed a dramatic cut to the length of the US academic year, allowing children to attend school for only six months annually starting in August." This is not the first time false news stories have been spread through videos on TikTok. Earlier this year, other fake stories were spread saying Trump only had a few days to live (he is still alive), and he had approved a $1,200 payment for stay-at-home moms (he didn't). Here is what to know: More: President Trump orders colleges to hand over more race-related admissions data Is Trump making school 6 months long? No, Trump has made no announcements indicating he intends to shorten the school year. What has Trump done with education so far? In March, Trump signed an executive order aimed at closing the U.S. Department of Education, though fully dissolving the department would take Congressional action. However, the U.S. Supreme Court in July allowed the administration to fire hundreds of workers in its efforts to scale back the department. While K-12 curricula is largely under the purview of local governments, the Department of Education plays a supporting role in K-12 schools through funding. The agency also oversees colleges to ensure legal compliance and federal student aid. The Trump administration has also taken aim at higher education, threatening to withhold funding from several universities in the U.S. if they do not follow federal directives, all under the banner of fighting antisemitism. He has alleged the institutions did not do enough to combat antisemitism during the protests against the war in Gaza, which brought allegations of both antisemitism and Islamaphobia. Some universities like Brown and Columbia have reached unprecedented deals with the Trump administration to end the freeze. Trump also restored the presidential fitness test for students in public schools. Contributing: Zachary Schermele, Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
The Herald Scotland
02-08-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow Friends of Israel hits back over anti-racist ban
However, on July 17, SUTR published a statement saying the group was no longer welcome at marches due to their support for Israel and 'the far-right'. GFI chairman Sammy Stein told The Herald he was surprised by the announcement as a leading member of SUTR had previously defended the group's right to attend marches. He said: 'They're afraid about what other groups might say. They've always tried to keep behind the stewards, but they did tolerate us, albeit in a non-friendly manner. 'I think they're threatened by a number of groups who don't want us to be there.' Glasgow Friends of Israel are no longer welcome at SUTR events, in a about face from five years ago. (Image: NQ) Stein pointed The Herald to a recording of a 'Islamaphobia, Anti-Semitism, and the Rise of the Far-Right' discussion hosted by SUTRS in 2020, in which the group's convenor, Talat Ahmed, said: 'Stand Up to Racism is not a political football for anyone with agendas to mess around with, under any circumstances whatsoever… Stand Up to Racism never has done, and never will do, have a position on the Middle East. 'What do you think my job should be as the convenor of Stand Up to Racism? Should I stand there policing who I like the look of? 'Should I let some in and tell the others they are not welcome? Get real. That is not what Stand Up to Racism is about. We welcome everyone, irrespective of what their positions are on a whole myriad of other politics and positions. '[That applies] if you are Jewish or Palestinian, irrespective of any politics you may hold.' Left-wing groups such as Scotland Against Criminalising Communities and Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign have long criticised SUTR for this stance. Reform councillor Thomas Kerr (L)'s support for the group has caused controversy. (Image: Getty Images)Stein said: 'At this meeting, Talat Ahmed made a very clear and courageous statement about welcoming everyone regardless of their politics. She criticised those who were trying to keep anyone out of the march. 'I thought she was very brave and sincere about her words and hence my huge disappointment about her decision to no longer stand up for these principles.' However, five years later, as war rages in Gaza, SUTR's neutral position on the Middle East appears to have been firmly abandoned. SUTR Scotland secretary Héctor Sierra told The Herald: "It is telling that Glasgow Friends of Israel are accusing us of hypocrisy instead of addressing the reasons why we have said they are not welcome at our events. These reasons are: their support for the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and their friendly relationships with far-right organisations here in Scotland. 'Glasgow Friends of Israel continues to justify the slaughter in Gaza, with much of its social media content this week being devoted to casting doubt over the horrific scale of mass starvation in the Strip.' One post on the GFI Facebook page refers to 'the lies of starvation in Gaza,' while another accused media organisations of creating 'fake news and propaganda at the expense of a sick child.' Sierra continued, calling the group a 'toxic organisation on the wrong side of history.' He said: 'On the second point, Glasgow Friends of [[Israel]] responded to our statement rejecting them by reaffirming their sympathy for Reform UK, a party focused on demonising refugees and migrants. Nick Tenconi led a 'mass deportations' march through Glasgow last week. (Image:) 'As if that were not enough, last weekend when SUTR organised an anti-racist protest to oppose fascist Nick Tenconi's 'mass deportation' march through Glasgow, they described SUTR, not Tenconi, as 'the problem'. SUTR is engaged in building a mass movement to resist the racist, Islamophobic and antisemitic far-right.' A post on the GFI Facebook from last Saturday states: 'Today on Buchanan Street, a group called Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) had rallied a mob with a call to arms to oppose a march by Nick Tenconi, the leader of UKIP. 'SUTR has branded him a racist and fascist and called on the masses to oppose what was probably to be a perfectly peaceful march. 'SUTR are an extremely unpleasant bunch of individuals, supported by black clad, mask wearing militant Antifa thugs and the usual Israel haters and they were there in force today for one reason and one reason only and that was to cause trouble.' Read more: 'Our community is being attacked': Queer Glaswegians to call out Israel during Pride Large group of anti-fascist protestors oppose 'mass deportation' rally Scottish anti-racist campaigners bar pro-Israel groups from events Speaking to The Herald, Stein denied that GFI had any connection to right-wing groups, after leading Reform councillor Thomas Kerr was photographed visiting their stall on Buchanan Street. 'We are not racist and neither is Zionism. A Zionist is someone who believes a Jewish person should have a home in Israel. 'Many members of my family were killed in the Holocaust,' Stein added. 'I march to remember them. We will not stop taking part, as we believe we must stand up to racist and especially anti-Semitism. 'We will make every effort to participate in the marches, despite the obstructions and pushing.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Where does Barron Trump go to college, and did he get rejected by Harvard? What we know
President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, broke family tradition when he chose New York University as his college destination. Barron Trump is the only child of the president and first lady Melania Trump, and he just completed his freshman year at NYU's Stern School of Business. Trump's other kids either went to Georgetown or the University of Pennsylvania, where the president himself graduated from. But as the Trump administration has been escalating its battle against Harvard University, some have questioned whether the president could be salty about some personal rejection. But the first lady's office squashed those rejection rumors for her son last week. Here is what we know about where the other Trump family members went to school: No. According to the first lady's office, he didn't even apply. "Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false," Nick Clemens, spokesperson for the Office of the First Lady, said in an emailed statement on May 27. Harvard University did not respond to multiple requests for comment. In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the president's youngest son attended a Florida rally, and then-candidate Donald Trump confirmed Barron Trump's plan to go to college. "He's now going to college, got into every college he wanted to," Donald Trump said at the July 9, 2024, rally in Doral, Florida. "He made his choice and he is a very good guy." Barron Trump recently finished his freshman year at NYU's Stern School of Business. He's projected to graduate in the class of 2028. Barron Trump broke tradition when he chose NYU, the first of Trump's five children to go there. Here is where the other Trump kids graduated from: Donald Trump Jr.: University of Pennsylvania in 2000 Ivanka Trump: University of Pennsylvania in 2004 Eric Trump: Georgetown University in 2006 Tiffany Trump: University of Pennsylvania in 2016, and Georgetown Law School in 2020 Trump has threatened to withhold funding from several universities in the U.S. if they do not follow federal directives, all under the banner of fighting antisemitism. He has alleged the institutions did not do enough to combat antisemitism during the protests against the war in Gaza, which brought allegations of both antisemitism and Islamaphobia. Harvard rejected the administration's orders, which included ending all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, hiring an external auditor to ensure the university hosts diverse ideological viewpoints, and update admissions processes to bar students "hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence." Defying the orders has put billions of dollars worth of federal funding and Harvard's tax-exempt status at risk. President Donald Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in May 1968 with a degree in economics. But he didn't spend all four years at Wharton. Trump started off his college days at Fordham University in the Bronx in 1964, but transferred to Wharton two years later. Contributing: Zachary Schermele, Jennifer Sangalang, Antonio Fins, Savannah Kuchar, Jeremy Yurow, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Barron rejected by Harvard? Trump family college list
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Where did Trump go to college? What to know as battle with Harvard continues
President Donald Trump's ongoing battle against Harvard University has been escalating over the last week with no signs of stopping. The Trump administration has attempted to block the school from enrolling international students, reportedly moved to cancel remaining federal contracts with the school, and threatened to take away the school's tax-exempt status. Trump has claimed that Harvard and other elite universities have not done enough to address what is says is rampant antisemitism on campus. As USA TODAY previously reported, the school has also long been a target of criticism from conservatives who claim the school promotes liberal ideology. The fierce fight has led to questions about Trump's personal history with the university. The Office of the First Lady confirmed on May 27 that their 19-year-old son Barron Trump did not even apply to attend the school. Did the president? More: No, Barron Trump was not rejected by Harvard, Melania says amid university battle A White House spokesperson criticized USA TODAY Network questions about whether Trump applied to Harvard and answered with this statement: "The President didn't need to apply to an overrated, corrupt institution like Harvard to become a successful businessman and the most transformative President in history," spokesperson Taylor Rogers said. Harvard has not responded to a request for comment. Trump has threatened to withhold funding from several universities in the U.S. if they do not follow federal directives, all under the banner of fighting antisemitism. He has alleged the institutions did not do enough to combat antisemitism during the protests against the war in Gaza, which brought allegations of both antisemitism and Islamaphobia. Harvard rejected the administration's orders, which included ending all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, hiring an external auditor to ensure the university hosts diverse ideological viewpoints, and update admissions processes to bar students "hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence." Defying the orders has put billions of dollars worth of federal funding and Harvard's tax-exempt status at risk. The Trump administration also recently attempted to prohibit the school from enrolling international students, which was blocked by a federal judge. President Donald Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in May 1968 with a degree in economics. But he didn't spend all four years at Wharton. Trump started off his college days at Fordham University in the Bronx in 1964, but transferred to Wharton two years later. Barron Trump recently finished his freshman year at New York University's Stern School of Business. He's projected to graduate in the class of 2028. A spokesperson for first lady Melania Trump confirmed on May 27 that Barron Trump did not apply to attend Harvard. "Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false," Nick Clemens, spokesperson for the Office of the First Lady, said in an emailed statement. Contributing: Zachary Schermele, Jennifer Sangalang, Antonio Fins, Savannah Kuchar, Jeremy Yurow, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Did Donald Trump apply to Harvard and get rejected? What to know
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
No, Barron Trump was not rejected by Harvard, Melania says amid university battle
No, Barron Trump was not rejected by Harvard, Melania says amid university battle President Donald Trump is in a fierce battle against Harvard University. Was Barron Trump rejected from the school? Where does he go to college? Show Caption Hide Caption Harvard suing Trump administration over international enrollment ban Harvard is suing the Trump administration in response to its international student enrollment ban. Barron Trump did not apply to or get rejected from Harvard, according to the first lady's office. Trump is in an ongoing fued with Harvard after it refused to comply with federal directives. Trump's administration has targeted several elite universities, alleging they are not doing enough to protect Jewish students. President Donald Trump is escalating his battle with Harvard University. Harvard is one of several universities targeted by the Trump administration, which alleges schools aren't doing enough to protect Jewish students. Harvard has defied executive orders seeking to influence the school's curriculum and filed multiple lawsuits. On May 27, the New York Times and CNN reported Trump is poised to cancel the remaining federal contracts with Harvard, worth an estimated $100 million in total. The fierce fight has led to questions about Trump's personal history with the university. Some have wondered if Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump's son Barron Trump, 19, was rejected from the university. "Can't help but wonder how many Trumps got rejected by Harvard," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., mused on a social media post that received more than 40,000 views. Here is what we know: Trump - the next generation: 'That calling is there': Donald Trump Jr says he could run for president Was Barron Trump rejected by Harvard? No. According to the first lady's office, he didn't even apply. "Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false," Nick Clemens, spokesperson for the Office of the First Lady, said in an emailed statement. More: Trump tells West Point grads to avoid 'trophy wives' in commencement speech Harvard University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the president's youngest son attended a Florida rally, and then-candidate Donald Trump confirmed Barron Trump's plan to go to college. "He's now going to college, got into every college he wanted to," Donald Trump said at the July 9, 2024, rally in Doral, Florida. "He made his choice and he is a very good guy." Why is Trump fighting with Harvard? Trump has threatened to withhold funding from several universities if they do not follow federal directives, all under the banner of fighting antisemitism. He has alleged the institutions did not do enough to combat antisemitism during the protests against the war in Gaza, which brought allegations of both antisemitism and Islamaphobia. Harvard rejected the administration's orders, which included ending all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, hiring an external auditor to ensure the university hosts diverse ideological viewpoints, and update admissions processes to bar students "hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence." Defying the orders has put billions of dollars in federal funding and Harvard's tax-exempt status at risk. The Trump administration also recently attempted to prohibit the school from enrolling international students, which was blocked by a federal judge. Where is Barron Trump going to college? Barron Trump recently finished his freshman year at New York University's Stern School of Business. He's projected to graduate in the class of 2028. More: Barron Trump is 'future of conservative movement' say College Republicans Where did President Donald Trump go to college? President Trump graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in May 1968 with a degree in economics. Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Antonio Fins, Zachary Schermele, Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
