Former US President Barack Obama has commended Harvard University for standing up to demands made by Donald Trump’s administration.
The White House sent a list of demands to Harvard last week, which it said were designed to fight antisemitism on campus.
Antisemitism is defined as hostility to or prejudice against Jewish people.
The demands included changes to its governance, hiring practices and admissions procedures.
Harvard rejected the demands, saying the White House was trying to control its community.
“No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Harvard President Alan Garber said.
According to Obama, the institution has set a good example in rejecting an unlawful attempt to suppress academic freedom.
He said that he hopes other institutions will follow suit.
“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,” Obama said.
After the response by Garber, the Trump administration said it is freezing more than $2 billion in federal funds for Harvard University.
The Department of Education accused the institution of breeding the troubling entitlement mindset in the country.
"Harvard's statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation's most prestigious universities and colleges," the Department of Education said in a statement.
It is the first major university to defy pressure from the Trump administration to change its policies.
The US government has accused leading universities of failing to protect Jewish students when colleges around the country protested against the war in Gaza and US support for Israel in 2024.
