TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
March 12 , 2025
President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against student protests, threatening to deport international university students who participate in boycotts targeting Tesla, a company closely tied to his administration. The remarks, delivered via Truth Social, have sparked widespread criticism and concerns over freedom of speech protections under the First Amendment.
Trump’s post stated that federal funding would be cut for colleges and universities that allow what he termed "illegal protests." He further declared that "agitators" involved in such demonstrations would face imprisonment or deportation.
"The idea that these so-called ‘students’ can freely call for a boycott of one of America’s greatest companies is simply unacceptable," Trump wrote. "If they don't like Tesla, they should leave. If they are here on student visas, they can be sent back where they came from. This type of disloyalty to American innovation and success cannot be tolerated."
The President’s comments are being met with both support and condemnation. His allies argue that such actions against a company like Tesla should not go unpunished. They claim that boycotting Tesla undermines national pride and could harm American interests at a critical time for the nation’s technological and environmental future.
However, critics of Trump’s remarks, including legal experts and civil liberties organizations, argue that the former president is overstepping constitutional boundaries. “Threatening deportation of students based on their political beliefs is an alarming violation of the First Amendment,” said Caroline Roberts, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown University. “The right to protest and voice dissent is fundamental to American democracy, and no one should fear deportation for exercising that right.”
Student groups involved in the boycotts have expressed outrage at Trump’s statement, calling it an attempt to silence them and suppress their activism. "We are standing up for what we believe is right, and we will not be intimidated by threats of deportation or any form of retaliation," said Maria Gonzalez, a senior at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leader of the boycott movement.
Musk, who has long been a vocal critic of the political left and who has frequently clashed with progressive activists, has remained silent on the recent wave of boycotts, though some close to him have indicated his displeasure with the student-led protests.
The debate over boycotts and political speech in the academic sphere has grown increasingly heated in recent years, with some accusing universities of becoming too ideologically homogenous and suppressing free expression in the name of political correctness. Others argue that campuses should serve as safe spaces for students to engage in activism and critique powerful corporations and institutions.
As the controversy surrounding Trump’s remarks continues to unfold, universities are likely to face mounting pressure to clarify their positions on student activism, particularly when it intersects with corporate interests. Legal challenges to Trump’s suggestion of deporting students are expected, with civil rights groups already gearing up for a lengthy battle in the courts.
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.