Trump blames Biden for the anti-Israel protesters trying to 'rip down colleges': President calls demonstrators a 'disgrace to our country' and reveals why it 'all starts with Joe'

Former President Donald Trump called pro-Palestinian protests that have rippled across major college campuses a 'disgrace' and blamed President Biden for sending the 'wrong signal.' 

Trump made his comments inside Manhattan criminal court before the second day of his trial on charges of falsifying financial records related to 'hush' payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

On Tuesday, rather than focus on the case against him that he calls a 'witch hunt,' Trump turned to the Pennsylvania primary and angry protests.

'What's going on at the college level and the colleges – Columbia, NYU and others is a disgrace,' Trump said. 'And it's really on Biden. He has the wrong signal. He's got the wrong tone. He's got the wrong words. He doesn't know who he's backing. And it's a mess.'

Biden commented on the protests Monday, seeking to balance his remarks.

Former President Trump accused President Joe Biden of setting the 'wrong tone' and said, 'It's all Biden's fault'

'I condemn the anti-Semitic protests. That's why I've set up a program to deal with that,' Biden said. 'I also condemn those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians,' he continued, before switching topics when a reporter asked him another question.

'If this were me, they'd be after me so much. But they're trying to give him a pass,' Trump complained in his remarks. 'What's going on is a disgrace to our country, and it's all Biden's fault and everybody knows that.'

Then Trump veered into a political critique. 'He's got no message. He's got no capacity,' he said, calling him 'the worst president in the history of our country,' a day after calling New York AG Letitia James the 'worst attorney general in the country.'

Then Trump described a massive police presence outside the courthouse – although his characterization was contradicted by reporters on the scene. 

'Outside, for great Americans, people want to come down and they want to protest at the court, and they want to protest peacefully,' Trump said, apparently referring to pro-MAGA protesters.  

'We have more police presence here than anyone's ever seen for blocks, you can't get near this courthouse,' Trump said. 'And if you have nobody up at a college, where you have very radical people wanting to rip the colleges down, the universities down, and that's a shame.' 

Police intervene and arrest more than 100 students at New York University (NYU) who continue their demonstration on campus in solidarity with the students at Columbia University and to oppose Israel's attacks on Gaza

Protesters at Columbia have created a Pro-Palestine encampment on campus, with more than 100 arrested during sit-ins last week

President Joe Biden walked a thin line Monday when asked if he had a message to protesters and if he condemned the antisemitic protests on college campuses

Trump cited a police presence and said 'you can't get near this courthouse'

On Thursday police in riot gear cleared a protest encampment at Columbia, making more than 100 arrests. 

One of the top Jewish groups on Columbia's campus said in a social media post Sunday that Jewish students are being targeted by protesters telling them to 'go back to Poland' and 'stop killing children.' 

Early Monday embattled Columbia President Nemat 'Minouche' Shafik announced that classes would be held virtually and a campus rabbi encouraged Jewish students to return home for their safety. 

There was outrage on campus Tuesday as classes were switched to remote learning through the end of the spring semester April 29 for the school's 37,000 students. 

Asked if Shafik should resign, Biden answered, 'I'll have to find out more about it.'

On Monday billionaire alum Robert Kraft announced he'd be pulling his financial support from the university over the anti-Israel demonstrations.

'The school I love so much – the one that welcomed me and provided me with so much opportunity – is no longer an institution I recognize,' The New England Patriots' owner said. 'I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country.'

Last week more than 100 students were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday for participating in sit-ins but by Friday students had returned to their 'Gaza solidarity camp.'

One of those arrested and then suspended was fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar's daughter.

The president and the so-called Squad, which includes AOC, haven't seen eye to eye on the topic of Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas terror attack.