Summers, the former president of Harvard University, slammed Trump's intensifying attacks on the university, calling the freeze on federal funding earlier this week "a grave violation" and warning of the government's "tyranny." "This is not an isolated incident," Summers said in an interview Wednesday. "This is a broad and comprehensive effort to clamp down on institutions that challenge the government."
This week, the Trump administration announced that it would freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding for Harvard University, and the conflict between the two sides continued to escalate. Trump later threatened to revoke the school's tax-exempt status and on Wednesday accused the school of hiring "radical left” faculty, saying it “can’t even be considered a decent institution anymore.”
The Trump administration has previously accused Harvard of failing to handle anti-Semitism on campus, and last week stepped up pressure on the school to reform its admissions and hiring standards.
Harvard President Alan Garber this week rejected the administration's terms, saying it was a clear indication that the government “does not want to work with us to address anti-Semitism.”
Summers noted that while Harvard still needs to do more to combat prejudice against Jews and expand academic diversity, hePraises the school for its efforts in response to pressure from the Trump administration.
“Harvard should not actively involve itself in politics,” Summers said, “but if an institution like Harvard can’t fight against tyranny, who can?”