California Governor Gavin Newsom dropped a bombshell on Thursday, declaring he’d rather quit than let UCLA fork over a dime to the federal government for antisemitism-related fines.
Breitbart reported that Newsom’s dramatic stand comes amid severe federal penalties against UCLA for failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students, with funding cuts ballooning to nearly $600 million and the governor digging in his heels against paying any fines.
This saga started heating up in the spring of 2024, when UCLA became a hotspot for some of the ugliest antisemitism and violence during anti-Israel campus protests dubbed “encampments.”
The university’s troubles didn’t escape notice, as the Trump administration zeroed in on UCLA, naming it among the top ten targets for investigation over these issues.
Last week, the administration yanked $200 million in research funding from UCLA, a penalty that soon swelled to a staggering $600 million after findings confirmed violations of Jewish and Israeli students’ civil rights.
While speaking at an event focused on artificial intelligence and workforce topics, Newsom fielded press questions and made his position crystal clear, refusing to bend under federal pressure.
Compare this to other elite schools like Columbia, which shelled out over $200 million, and Brown, which paid $50 million in settlements for similar failures to curb antisemitism on their campuses.
UCLA’s situation, however, seems to have struck a deeper nerve with Newsom, who appears to view the federal response as an overreach rather than a justified consequence.
“We’re not Brown, we’re not Columbia,” Newsom insisted, signaling his disdain for what he sees as capitulation by other institutions. But one has to wonder if this bravado addresses the root problem or merely deflects from UCLA’s documented failures.
He doubled down, stating, “I’m not going to be governor if we act like that.” Such a pledge to resign over a fine raises eyebrows—is this principled resistance or a political stunt to dodge accountability?
Newsom also took a swipe at the current administration, dismissing the severity of the issue with a quip about “the temperament of an aggrieved individual” in the White House. This jab might play well with his base, but it risks trivializing the very real civil rights violations suffered by students.
The governor’s rhetoric suggests a willingness to fight, but at what cost to UCLA’s reputation and, more importantly, to the safety of its Jewish and Israeli students?
Let’s not forget the core issue: UCLA was a battleground for antisemitism during those chaotic spring protests, and the federal findings aren’t just bureaucratic nitpicking—they’re a damning indictment of the university’s inaction.
While Newsom’s defiance might resonate as a stand against federal overreach, conservatives must ask if this is the hill to die on when student safety and civil rights hang in the balance. A balanced approach would prioritize fixing campus culture over grandstanding against penalties.
Ultimately, Newsom’s threat to resign could be a wake-up call—if channeled into real reform rather than political theater. UCLA’s students deserve a campus free from hostility, and no amount of clever soundbites should distract from that goal.