According to a BBC report, former US President Barack Obama praised Harvard University for rejecting the White House's request to change its policies, marking his first criticism of the Trump administration on social media since the inauguration of current President Trump.
US President Trump called for the cancellation of a tax exemption policy for Harvard University after the government announced it would freeze over US$2 billion in federal funding for the institution. The White House demanded that Harvard change its hiring, admissions, and teaching practices, claiming this would help combat anti-Semitism on campus. On Monday (April 14), Harvard became the first major university in the US to reject the government's demands, accusing the White House of trying to "control" its community. Trump threatened on social media Tuesday (April 15) that, in addition to withholding federal funds, he would also seek to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status.
Harvard University President Alan Garber stated in a press release, no government, regardless of which party is in power, should dictate what private universities can teach, who they can admit and hire, and what fields of research and inquiry they can pursue.
Obama wrote on social media, "Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let's hope other institutions follow suit."
The BBC noted that Obama is an alumnus of Harvard University, and he described the funding freeze as illegal and foolish. He urged other institutions to follow Harvard's lead and not yield to Trump's demands.
The BBC added that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also emulated Harvard's stance by rejecting the Trump administration's requests. Hundreds of faculty and staff at Yale University issued an open letter expressing support for Harvard's decision to reject the Trump administration's demands.
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