Harvard President Says Trump's Attacks Are 'Perplexing'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Huff Post

May 27, 2025, 12:15 PM EDT


Harvard President Alan Garber said the federal funding cuts the Trump administration has ordered for the university do little to advance Donald Trump’s purported goal of fighting antisemitism, calling the approach “perplexing.” In an interview with NPR’s “Morning Edition” released Monday, Garber argued that the decision to target Harvard will hurt Americans. “What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these [issues] ... don’t even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems,” Garber said.

“Why cut off research funding?” he asked. “Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after all, the research funding is not a gift. The research funding is given to universities and other research institutions to carry out work — research work — that the federal government designates as high-priority work. It is work that they want done.”

Harvard has been one of the most prominent targets of the administration when it comes to higher education. The White House has already frozen billions in federal contracts and grants for Harvard, but is now reportedly planning to end all remaining contracts with the Ivy League school, according to a letter first reported by The New York Times.

This follows unprecedented action by the Department of Homeland Security last week to revoke Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, which make up over a fourth of its student body and represent a big source of income for the school. The action was blocked by the courts after Harvard sued. Garber urged his fellow university leaders to stand “firm” as administration officials have warned that other schools could be next on its target list.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/harvard-prez-calls-out-trump-attacks_n_6835d060e4b0620c4725dbd3

[Walleye]

1. Unhinged madman does crazy shit. Not that perplexing.

They should talking about him like he knows what he’s doing or like anything he does is logical. The man’s intellect deserves no respect zero. He doesn’t do things for the same reason so we think of. He is working on a program of vengeance and that’s it.

[J_William_Ryan]

2. It's not really perplexing -

Trump has consistently worked to harm America and Americans, such as the unwarranted attacks on Harvard and other universities.

And these ham-fisted attacks have nothing to do with combating antisemitism; rather, they seek to silence universities that promote facts and the truth Trump fears, undermining his authoritarian, despotic regime.

[et tu]

4. imho

travel is the best 'teacher' and if you can't
travel, having international students is the
next best option. i benefited greatly from
travel and international students/citizens.
krasnov, can we get any dumber???

[nowforever]

5. Perplexing

It is right in line what any malignant narcissist would do when retribution is what he seeks. He is following Stalin's strategy of eliminating the intelligent and progressive voices that threaten his control. A dumb evil sociopathic with unlimited power is what we are witnessing. The only hope we have is that a fat embolism lodges in his left vertebral artery...soon.

[serbbral]

6. I truly believe this stems from jealousy

I think Trump has something against those who are smart and intelligent. When I say smart, I am referring to smart as in those who are academically inclined ( I do not think educational smarts necessarily means intelligence). Trump knows that he does not measure up to people like that, and he knows (at least it has been stated) that if it were not for his father, he would have never been able to get into an Ivy League school. This explains all the attacks on education, the action taken toward educational funding, and the control of universities.

[sboatcar]

17. I think this describes a LOT of MAGA

Harvard is seen as the pinnacle of education in america, of course he's going to attack it.

[Cha]

7. You're getting to know Mump, Alan Garber..

It's Revenge!

No Kings Hands Off! 💙🌈

[wolfie001]

8. He's a violent psychopath attempting to jail judges and that's the response? Perplexing?

Women dying in parking lots, dump pardoning thousands of criminals including financial criminals. Taking bribes to drop Federal cases. People dying in Ukraine directly because of dump cutting off military aid? Harvard's pulling a NYTs here. Sane washing a madman. literally.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Congrats on the 5k posts!!

Have to check EarlG's Lounge thread tomorrow to see if it made it!!





(P.S. - I think that Garber is forced to respond in "measured language" to minimize what would end up being a distraction of a slander/libel suit, since that is how 45 rolls. )

[wolfie001]

10. Thanks BumRush!!!

Appreciate so much! You're an inspiration and a wealth of knowledge! Kudos!

[PlanetBev]

11. Nazi fantasy: Today Germany, Tomorrow the World

Trump fantasy: Today Columbia University, Tomorrow Harvard.

Trump will never stop. He’s is like a fly in the house. He’ll buzz around hysterically until he dies or someone swats him.

[pfitz59]

12. Internet says revenge

because Harvard wouldn't admit Barron.

[stage left]

14. It's just as simple as that

Harvard rejected his kid. Harvard must pay.

[thought crime]

13. It's an attack on "Elite" institutions

Part of the Maga agenda.

Note that Trump said Harvard's federal funding would be transferred to Vocational Schools. They think we need welders, not Ivy League intellectuals. We need both, but for Maga everything is Zero-sum, and Harvard is an easy target because it is a symbol of the wealthy liberal elite.

[Javaman]

15. the orange ignoramus is bathing in a caldron of conspiracy bullshit.

fed daily by mini goebbels

[RobinA]

16. Garber Is Just Being Polite

A narcisstic madman with (arguably) more power than anyone in the world takes on the culturally preeminent university in a country of preeminent universities and tries to destroy it. One that stands for everything that is supposed to be best in America. Or used to be right about America. Not perplexing at all. Actions of a pathetic, uneducated little man.