Former President Barack Obama has applauded Harvard University’s decision to reject demands from the White House that it change its policies or risk losing federal funding. Obama’s remarks came after the Trump administration froze over $2 billion in federal funds for Harvard, accusing the institution of not doing enough to combat antisemitism on its campus.
As a Harvard alum, Obama took to social media to support the university’s bold stance. He called the federal demands “unlawful and ham-handed” and praised Harvard for setting an example for other universities to uphold academic freedom.
“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,” Obama wrote on X.
The demands, outlined by the Trump administration, included sweeping changes to Harvard’s hiring, admissions, and teaching practices under the guise of combating antisemitism.
The administration pushed for a third-party audit of the viewpoints held by students and faculty, as well as restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. President Trump’s Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism accused the university of being complicit in antisemitism and failure to protect Jewish students during protests last year.
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… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025
However, Harvard President Alan M. Garber rejected the administration’s overreach, arguing that the demands went far beyond addressing antisemitism.
“The majority of the demands represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard,” Garber said. He emphasized that the university would not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights in the face of political pressure.
The Trump administration’s response has been consistent: more than $2 billion in grants to Harvard have been frozen, and President Trump has threatened to revoke the university’s tax-exempt status. Trump, on his social media platform, Truth Social, argued that Harvard’s refusal to comply with the administration’s demands could result in it being taxed as a political entity.
The administration’s move against Harvard follows similar actions against other universities, including Columbia University, which caved to some of the demands, such as banning mask-wearing during protests and hiring additional security.
This kind of pressure has also led to funding freezes for other schools like Stanford, which, according to university leaders, have been forced to freeze hiring and cut budgets due to reduced federal funding.
In response to the Trump administration’s actions, Garber reaffirmed Harvard’s commitment to fighting antisemitism and promoting an inclusive environment but insisted that the university would do so within the framework of academic freedom.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
