Stefanik predicts new Columbia leader 'won't last' because 'they still don't get it'
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) predicted on Sunday the new acting president of Columbia University “won’t last” after the prestigious institution lost its second leader in recent months to scrutiny of its handling of pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitism on campus.
Columbia’s former interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned Friday amid a tussle with the Trump administration over federal funding and its response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Claire Shipman was appointed to replace Armstrong, who was the second Columbia leader to step down in less than a year.
In an interview on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Stefanik signaled she was not optimistic about Shipman’s tenure in her new post.
“We have seen six high-profile university presidents resign, two of which are from Columbia, because these university presidents have failed to show moral strong leadership,” Stefanik said, praising President Trump for "holding them accountable.”
“These universities have failed to make sure that they are following their own rules,” she added. “They have failed to protect Jewish students, and we will continue to highlight a spotlight.”
“But the fact that we're on the third Columbia University president, and this one, let's be honest ... is not going to last, as well,” Stefanik said.
Stefanik — who has led the fight on Capitol Hill to hold higher education accountable for what she describes as antisemitic policies and practices — pointed to reporting that Shipman called the December 2023 congressional hearing on antisemitism “Capitol Hill nonsense.”
“That is what this latest Columbia University president said,” Stefanik said in the interview. “That's why it's untenable for her to be in this position. And I think it is only going to be a matter of weeks before she is forced to step down as well.”
“They still don't get it. The faculty doesn't get it. These radical, far-left students [don’t] get it,” she continued.
Stefanik, whose nomination to serve as ambassador to the United Nations was withdrawn this week, said she would continue to lead the effort against antisemitism on college campuses from her perch on Capitol Hill.
“This is strong leadership from President Trump. I'm going to continue to lead this effort in holding higher ed accountable, standing up to be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and combating the rot and the scourge of antisemitism in higher ed,” she said.
A Columbia University spokesperson said the school is focused on doing the right thing for its students.
“We are focused on doing what is right and honoring our commitments to create a Columbia community where students are safe and able to flourish. This will secure Columbia’s future,” a spokesperson for the university said in a statement to The Hill.
Updated at 4:12 pm EDT.