Donald Trump has strongly rebuked the pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University after they barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall and caused “tremendous” damage.

Speaking to Fox News‘ Sean Hannity on Tuesday, the former president also praised New York police for removing dozens of people protesting the war in Gaza from the academic building, which was the scene of student anti-war protests in 1968.

“New York City’s finest have been incredible, the way they walked in and the way they climbed through that window, they were not they were not afraid of anything,” Trump said.

“But it should never have gotten to this, they should have done it a lot sooner than before they took over the building because it would have been a lot easier if they were in tents rather than a building,” he added.

“And tremendous damage done too, when you look at that building, that’s a landmark, and it’s really been damaged badly by these people.”

This is a breaking story. More to follow.