As the the Trump administration changes long-held American policies towards Europe, there is a sense of betrayal among some Europeans, as well as shock and disbelief. At least half of the American people feel the same way, and I count myself among them.
For some Americans, that feeling of betrayal comes about from witnessing the Trump administration’s assault on cherished American principles like the system of checks and balances between the branches of government, or the belief in freedom of speech as foundational to American democracy and exceptionalism.
The latest such instance that illustrates the peril to American traditions of freedom to speak and dissent is the disappearance of the former Columbia University student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Khalil was highly visible in the pro-Palestinian, anti-genocide protests that unsettled Columbia in the wake of October 7 and Israel’s genocidal attack on Gaza. The Columbia protests were the most visible of their kind in the United States, and Israel’s supporters have accused Khalil of being a Hamas supporter (there appears to be no evidence to support this allegation). Secretary of State Marco Rubio is supposedly thinking of deporting Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, on the grounds provided by an obscure provision that allows the expulsion of those who support foreign powers.
