Republican Nancy Mace Fields Concerns Over University Funding During South Carolina Town Hall

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace faced criticism over the legal wrangling concerning universities and allegations of antisemitism during a town hall at a private, gated island community in her coastal South Carolina district.

The crowd of several hundred, mostly gray-haired attendees on Dataw Island was primarily friendly, with a moderator asking pre-screened questions of Mace on stage. A small group of attendees did walk out after Mace talked about Jewish college students being mistreated by campus protesters, an issue that has become a flashpoint in the Trump administration's feud with institutions of higher learning.

That includes Harvard University , which this week filed suit to halt a federal freeze on more than 2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration's demands, which include limiting activism on campus . The administration has argued universities allowed antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza

"I support all Jews in Israel, thank you very much," Mace said. "They are our best friend, and Christians are in their fight with them. I support them 100, and it says a lot about the folks walking out of here, when I'm talking about protesting Jews and religion."

The conversation later turned back to federal funding for colleges, including Harvard, with Mace saying she supported efforts to rein in schools that are "raising lunatics."