Trump’s Power Move: Banning Masks to End Campus Chaos

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President Trump is right: “NO MASKS!”

 

That was his emphatic closing statement in a recent Truth Social post where he warned that colleges and universities permitting “illegal protests” could lose federal funding. His main concern? The wave of antisemitic demonstrations that have roiled campuses for nearly 18 months.

 

Following the latest round of pro-Hamas protests, Columbia University alumni have urged the school to adopt an official mask ban. But Trump himself has the authority to put a stop to masked rioters on campuses through an executive order—just as various states once took action against the Ku Klux Klan’s hooded marches.

 

The federal government already has the power to require colleges and universities to take steps that protect students’ physical safety and civil rights. And the case against masking is both strong and constitutional.

 

While the First Amendment guarantees free speech, it does not protect individuals who join violent mobs, intimidate others, and create public disorder. Yet that is exactly what masked protesters have done at universities across the country, using their anonymity to evade identification by law enforcement and school officials while spreading hatred toward Israel and Jewish students.

 

 

Since October 7, 2023, these masked demonstrators have committed numerous acts of vandalism and intimidation. At Barnard College in February, they defaced buildings, while last May, masked agitators caused $3 million in damage at City College. At Columbia University, they occupied buildings and even held university personnel hostage. Jewish students have been physically blocked from attending class at UCLA and outright attacked at DePaul University and other schools.

 

The rise of masked protests coincides with an alarming surge in antisemitism, which increased nearly fourfold in the U.S. last year. These are not just student demonstrations; they are criminal acts. But there is a historical precedent that points to a solution.

 

Like today’s masked agitators, members of the Ku Klux Klan hid their identities behind hoods to terrorize Black citizens, Catholics, and other minorities while avoiding consequences. They sought to spread fear without accountability.

 

State governments responded by enacting anti-masking laws, stripping the KKK of its anonymity and making it easier to prosecute members. By the mid-1950s, the Klan had largely collapsed, unable to hide behind its disguises.

 

This legal approach was so effective that states across the political spectrum—including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia—have had anti-masking laws in place for decades. New York was the first to enact such a law in 1845, but it was repealed during the COVID pandemic. Now, a bill to reinstate it is under consideration.

 

Over the past year, I have worked with multiple states to introduce or strengthen anti-masking laws to enhance public safety and protect students. But this must now be addressed on a national level. The president should issue an executive order directing his administration to act immediately.

 

First, Education Secretary Linda McMahon should require all federally funded colleges and universities to adopt anti-masking policies to prevent harassment and intimidation. Clear guidelines should be set, referencing existing state laws to prevent universities from exploiting loopholes.

 

Additionally, institutions should be required to address civil rights complaints stemming from masked protests that disrupt educational environments.

 

Second, McMahon should issue an anti-masking regulation under the Clery Act, which mandates that schools participating in federal student loan programs disclose crime statistics. Universities are already required to submit policies encouraging the prompt and accurate reporting of crimes. But accurate reporting is impossible when masked mobs are destroying property and threatening students. The Clery Act can and should be used to prohibit masks on campus.

 

Finally, Attorney General Pam Bondi should make federal grants under the STOP School Violence Act contingent on the adoption of anti-masking policies. The Justice Department should not be funding campus security forces if university administrators refuse to stand up against Klan-style intimidation tactics.

 

These measures are fully within legal authority and are morally essential to curbing the rise of antisemitic violence on college campuses. The sooner President Trump enforces his call for “NO MASKS,” the better.

 

Based on a report by NYP  2025-03-20

 

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