From pride to peril: US president vs. Harvard in historic standoff over academic freedom – The Times of India
Harvard faces US backlash as Trump escalates war on academic freedom Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the US, has become the epicenter of a high-stakes conflict with President Donald Trump, igniting national debate over academic freedom, federal authority, and institutional independence. What began as a firm rejection of the White House's demands by Harvard President Alan Garber has escalated into what faculty and students describe as an existential threat to the university's future.As reported by The New York Times, following Harvard's refusal to comply with unspecified requests from the White House, the Trump administration retaliated swiftly, beginning on April 14, 2025, with a freeze on $2.2 BILLION in federal grants. The following days brought further t...