As college campuses around the country erupted with pro-Hamas demonstrations and incidents of antisemitic attacks skyrocketed, Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said if he was elected in 2024, he would revoke the student visa of anyone giving material support to Hamas, The Hill reported.
While in Iowa last Friday to attend a campaign showcase, the Florida Governor said some of the students protesting in support of Hamas are foreign nationals. He said if he wins the White House in 2024, he would be “canceling your visa” and “sending you home.”
Several GOP presidential candidates who spoke at the Iowa campaign showcase reiterated their support for Israel in its war against Hamas.
GOP hopeful South Carolina Senator Tim Scott said he would withhold Pell Grants from any university that fails to address antisemitism on campus. Meanwhile, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called for Israel to destroy Hamas.
Since Hamas launched its surprise attacks in Israel on October 7, Governor DeSantis has taken action, seeking to impose new sanctions to ensure that companies aligned with Iran cannot do business in Florida.
The Florida governor has also arranged charter flights to bring home Americans stranded in Israel while sending donated humanitarian aid to Israel.
On Wednesday, the Governor announced that nearly 700 US citizens had been flown home from Israel while 85 pallets of donated supplies had been shipped to Israel on two cargo planes.
The governor has described the pro-Hamas demonstrations as a “total disgrace” and has also voiced his opposition to the US accepting any Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
Earlier this month, DeSantis said he would prevent Palestinian refugees from entering the US, saying while they may not all be Hamas, they are “all antisemitic” and believe that Israel does not have the right to exist.
