US President Donald Trump called Harvard University a 'disgrace' amid row over campus protests, academic freedom, and federal funding.
Hundreds of students, faculty and community members held protests at University of California's Berkeley campus over possible IRS investigation on Harvard and other universities.
The protest was part of a nationwide wave of demonstrations under the banner 바카라Rally for the Right to Learn!바카라 which was sparked by Trump바카라s threats to revoke the tax-exempt status of universities like Harvard.
Trump's Explosive Statement Against Harvard University
Trump has criticised Harvard for rejecting the demands made by the White House regarding campus activism and handing over important documents, he stated, "They're obviously anti-Semitic, and all of a sudden they're starting to behave," and added, "I think Harvard is a disgrace."
"I'm not involved in it," Trump said when asked whether the IRS had made a decision.
"I read about it just like you did. But tax-exempt status - I mean, it's a privilege. It's really a privilege, and it's been abused by a lot more than Harvard."
This comes a day after Trump made similar comments accusing Harvard of hiring "Leftist dopes".
"Harvard has been hiring almost all woke, Radical Left, idiots and 바카라birdbrains바카라 who are only capable of teaching FAILURE to students and so-called 바카라future leaders," Trump said on a social media platform, adding that 바카라can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning.바카라
US Students Hold Protests
Hundreds of students, faculty and community members held protests at University of California's Berkeley campus over possible IRS investigation on Harvard and other universities.
The protest was part of a nationwide wave of demonstrations under the banner 바카라Rally for the Right to Learn!바카라 which was sparked by Trump바카라s threats to revoke the tax-exempt status of universities like Harvard.
Reportedly, the protesters held signs reading "Hands off our free speech!" and "Education is a public good!" while accusing Trump of curbing freedom.
The Trump administration has recently aimed to punish universities for their handling of last year's pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Reactions
Trump바카라s campaign to force change at elite universities started at Columbia University, which initially agreed to several demands after the Trump administration froze $400 million of its federal funding.
But Columbia took a more emboldened tone after Harvard바카라s defiance. Columbia's acting president, Claire Shipman, said in a campus message Monday that some of the demands 바카라are not subject to negotiation바카라 and that she read of Harvard바카라s rejection with 바카라great interest.바카라
Robert Reich, a professor of public policy, applauded Harvard President Alan Garber바카라s decision to resist pressure from the administration.
바카라Columbia University tried to appease a tyrant. It didn바카라t work," Reich said.
바카라After Harvard stood up to the tyrant, Columbia, who had been surrendering, stood up and said no.바카라
Harvard Vs Trump
The Trump administration has already hampered Harvard's ability to fund its research and operations. After Harvard President Alan Garber said Monday the university would not bend to the government바카라s demands, the White House announced the freeze of more than $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in contracts.
The hold on federal money for research marked the seventh time the administration has taken such a step at one of the nation바카라s most elite colleges. Republicans say the schools have allowed antisemitism and racial discrimination to fester in the form of pro-Palestinian protests and have promoted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives contrary to the administration's directives.
Separately, the House Oversight Committee said Thursday that it would open an investigation into Harvard, accusing the school of a 바카라lack of compliance with civil rights laws.바카라
In a statement Thursday, the university reiterated: "Harvard will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.바카라 Harvard, the school said, 바카라will continue to comply with the law and expect the Administration to do the same.바카라
(With Inputs from AP)
