Harvard University has taken a strong stand against the Trump administration by filing a lawsuit in response to the recent freeze on $2 billion (£1.5bn) in funding, which the university claims to be unlawful. This marks the most significant act of resistance by a US college against President Trump’s crackdown on higher education.
Ed Pilkington, Guardian US’s chief reporter, explains to Michael Safi that giving in to Trump’s demands would have significantly damaged Harvard’s reputation and that the administration is specifically targeting the university for its renowned liberal thinking.
Pilkington also discusses the growing resentment towards higher education in the US, which stems from the rising cost of college attendance and the perceived irrelevancy of liberal ideas from universities to people’s lives.
The conversation also explores how Harvard is trying to win public support by showcasing its contributions to society and whether the autonomy of higher education will ultimately be upheld in law courts or public opinion.
The article is accompanied by a photograph of a protester standing against President Trump’s actions towards Harvard, taken by Nicholas Pfosi for Reuters.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/apr/24/trump-class-war-harvard-podcast
