The move comes as Columbia faces mounting pressure from the Trump administration over campus antisemitism, federal funding, and controversial protest policies. Stepping into the role as acting president is Claire Shipman — a longtime liberal journalist, elite insider, and wife of former Obama press secretary Jay Carney.

Columbia has been the epicenter of far-left views and organizing efforts to hurt Israeli interests and, many Jewish groups claim, target Jews nationwide for violence.

Protesters last May had said "Zionists don't deserve to live" and their protest movement was spreading nationwide. The protester organizers blamed Israel for the Oct. 7th attacks.

Protest leaders asked to be thanked for not going out and killing Jews.

Many wealthy Jews, several worth billions, announced that they were subsequently pulling donations from Columbia.

President Trump also used the power of the Presidency to ensure that $400 million in federal funding was at risk unless Columbia addressed the Anti-Semitism of its students, faculty, and staff.

That demand is causing the college's administration to collapse, again.

The resignation of Armstrong, who had served as interim president since former president Minouche Shafik stepped down in 2024, follows a contentious back-and-forth with the federal government over campus unrest. In recent months, Columbia has been accused of turning a blind eye to rising antisemitism, disorderly protests, and escalating threats against Jewish students — triggering a firm response from President Trump's Department of Education.

The Trump administration had threatened to pull more than $400 million in federal funding unless Columbia implemented strict reforms.

Among the demands from Trump to Columbia:

an end to campus policies that allegedly allowed masked protestors to intimidate and disrupt,

enforcement of civil rights protections, and

clear consequences for student groups promoting so-called "hate speech."