University president links higher ed ‘brainwashing’ to Trump assassination attempt

Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño said higher education 'brainwashing' may be behind the recent Trump assassination attempt and the emerging trend of 'educated assassins.' Moreno-Riaño stated that universities have rejected a theistic Christian worldview without providing an alternative, resulting in a 'crisis of morality.' A 2025 survey found that 36% of those with graduate or professional degrees agreed that damaging property during a protest is reasonable, and 40% believed violence is necessary for social change. The survey's findings were highlighted after the third assassination attempt on President Trump's life. Cole Allen, who charged the White House Correspondents' Dinner with a gun, held degrees from the California Institute of Technology and California State University, Dominguez Hills. Moreno-Riaño's concerns were echoed by the survey's results, which suggested a link between higher education and support for political violence.