Barack Obama is calling out Donald Trump for trying to bully Harvard University into submission by freezing billions in federal funding.
After the Trump administration froze over $2.3 billion in federal grants and contracts to Harvard, Obama slammed the move, calling it an “unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom.”
The White House cut off the money after Harvard refused to meet a list of sweeping demands, including major changes to its leadership, admissions process, and governance.
Harvard didn’t back down.
In a blunt response, the university said it would “not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.” Harvard made it clear: it won’t let the federal government take over how it runs itself.
Obama praised Harvard for standing its ground and urged other schools to do the same.
“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,” he wrote on X. “Let’s hope other institutions follow suit.”
Harvard’s legal response included input from Robert K. Hur, a former U.S. attorney appointed by Trump himself. The university defended its recent efforts to address antisemitism and make campus more inclusive, calling it “unfortunate” that those actions were ignored.
“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government,” the school said. “Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle.”
Harvard is drawing a line — and Obama is standing with them.
