Obama takes brutal swipe at Donald Trump after he paused $2,300,000,000 in Harvard funding
Barack Obama's latest criticism of Donald Trump might be his harshest yet. The 44th president holds political views vastly different from the Republican leader, making his frequent criticisms of Trump's policies unsurprising. "I have profound disagreements with my immediate successor — who's now president again," Obama remarked during an address at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, earlier this month. "There are numerous policies we could discuss where I hold strong views," Obama added, expressing his belief that dedication to firm governmental principles has 'deteriorated'.
Following that speech, the education department has suspended $2.3 billion in federal funding to Harvard University after the prestigious institution declined a series of requirements outlined by the Trump administration. The government claims these demands, delivered to Harvard in a letter last week, aimed to combat antisemitism on campus - with modifications to recruitment, enrollment and instruction practices being proposed.
In essence, the academic institution would surrender significant authority to the government had it accepted Trump's requirements, which included points like ensuring the university will 'implement organizational adjustments to guarantee complete transparency and collaboration with all federal regulators' and pressing the school to 'promptly close all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, offices, committees, positions, and initiatives, under any name, and end all DEI-based policies'.
Harvard rejected the proposal on Monday (April 14), alleging the government is attempting to seize 'control' of the university and its broader community. "While some government demands target antisemitism, most represent direct governmental control of 'intellectual conditions' at Harvard," stated Harvard president Alan Garber.
The former president posted on Twitter: "Harvard has established a precedent for other higher-education institutions – declining an illegal and clumsy attempt to restrict academic liberty, while implementing specific measures to ensure all Harvard students can enjoy an environment of intellectual exploration, vigorous discussion and mutual consideration. Let's hope other institutions do the same."
In response to Harvard's refusal, the Department of Education stated: "Harvard's announcement today highlights the concerning entitlement mentality prevalent in our nation's most elite universities and colleges."
Elsewhere in the letter, the Trump administration requested changes to 'merit-based' admissions and hiring practices, plus a prohibition on face coverings, apparently targeting pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus.
Harvard has announced it is implementing actions to address antisemitism across its campus, but maintained this goal cannot be accomplished through "displays of authority, disconnected from legal frameworks, to dominate teaching and learning at Harvard and to prescribe our operations."
