Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson faced heckling during a visit to Columbia University amidst ongoing protests against the war in Gaza spreading across US campuses. Johnson criticized Columbia officials, claiming they had lost control of the situation and called for university president Nemat Shafik to resign. Police clashed with protesters in Texas and California, leading to numerous arrests. At Columbia, demonstrators demanded Shafik’s resignation over police actions, while Johnson denounced the protests as unlawful, urging students to return to class. Despite heckling, Johnson emphasized concerns about campus order and safety, raising the prospect of National Guard intervention, though Governor Kathy Hochul indicated no such plans. The protests at Columbia, marked by a week-long encampment, escalated after police arrests, with ongoing negotiations between university officials and protesters. While accusations of antisemitism have been raised by some lawmakers, others argue that such claims are exaggerated. Outside agitators have been accused of exacerbating tensions, with instances of antisemitic rhetoric condemned by protest supporters. Jewish students have expressed unease about the campus environment, with reports of harassment. Protests against the war in Gaza have spread to various campuses nationwide, with clashes reported at universities in Texas, California, Ohio, and elsewhere. Activists are calling for divestment from companies involved in supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza, despite Israel’s denial of genocide allegations.