Vice President JD Vance has launched a scathing critique of Harvard University, accusing the esteemed institution of lacking "ideological diversity" and likening it to North Korea.
This comes amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Harvard, as the administration continues to challenge the university's governance and admissions processes.
During a speech at the American Compass anniversary gala in Washington, Vance speculated, without providing evidence, that "probably" 95% of Harvards faculty supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. He described universities as "almost quasi-theocratic, or quasi-totalitarian societies."
Vance remarked, "Right. Very brilliant. Kamala Harris, of course," and further elaborated, "But if you ask yourself a foreign election, a foreign country's election, you say 80% of the people voted for one candidate, you would say, 'Oh, that's kind of weird, right? That's like, not a super healthy democracy.' If you said, 'Oh, 95% of people voted for one party's candidate,' you would say, 'That's North Korea, right That is impossible in a true place of free exchange for that to happen.'"
As reported by Fox News, Harvard has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations. The Trump administration has been pressuring Harvard to reform its governance and admissions policies, particularly in light of incidents of bias against Jewish students since October 2023.
However, Harvard University President Alan M. Garber has pushed back against these demands, arguing that they overreach constitutional boundaries. Garber stated that the administration's requests include "direct governmental regulation of the intellectual conditions at Harvard," which would involve auditing the viewpoints of students, faculty, and staff, as well as dismantling all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In an April letter, Garber emphasized that the administration's intentions were not aligned with addressing antisemitism constructively. "It makes clear that the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and constructive manner," he wrote. Consequently, Harvard has refused to comply with the administration's proposed agreement, citing constitutional concerns.
In response, the Trump administration has threatened to withdraw all federal funding from Harvard, totaling $100 million in contracts. This is in addition to the $3.2 billion in grants and contracts that have already been frozen.
The standoff between the administration and Harvard highlights the broader debate over academic freedom and government intervention in educational institutions.
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