Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has come out strongly in support of Harvard University after it refused to comply with demands from the Trump administration.
In a post on X, Sanders congratulated Harvard for standing its ground and criticized law firms backing the president.
“Congratulations to Harvard for refusing to relinquish its constitutional rights to Trump’s authoritarianism,” Sanders wrote.
“Other universities should follow their lead. And instead of doing pro bono work for Trump, cowardly law firms should be defending those who believe in the rule of law.
Trump Freezes Billions Over Harvard’s Refusal
The senator’s comments come after the Trump administration froze over $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard.
The decision followed Harvard President Alan Garber’s public rejection of a list of demands from the White House that included changes to the university’s leadership, hiring, and admissions policies.
The administration said the changes were intended to fight antisemitism, but Garber argued they amounted to government overreach.
The Trump administration is targeting Harvard in response to campus protests over Israel’s war in Gaza. President Donald Trump has accused leading universities of allowing antisemitism to flourish and failing to protect Jewish students.
The White House argued that federal funding should come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws.
“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Garber wrote in a letter to the Harvard community.
“No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” he wrote.
“Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard.”
In response, the Department of Education called Harvard’s stance a symptom of an “entitlement mindset” and said, “The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.”
Obama Weighs In
Former President Barack Obama also praised Harvard’s defiance, saying the university “has set an example for other higher-ed institutions” and defended the school for “rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom.”
Sharp Divides on Social Media
Online reactions to Sanders’ comments and Harvard’s decision were sharply divided.
Supporters said Harvard was right to stand up for academic independence and reject government pressure. “Harvard just reminded them what integrity looks like,” one commenter wrote.
But critics slammed the university and Sanders, accusing them of backing antisemitism and pushing left-wing ideology with taxpayer money.
“They can teach anything they want, but the government doesn’t have to fund it,” one user posted. Others questioned why Harvard needed public money at all, pointing out its massive endowment, which exceeds $50 billion.
Wider Crackdown on Universities
Harvard is not the only university in the Trump administration’s crosshairs. Columbia University previously had $400 million in funding frozen, but later complied with several White House demands.
Since taking office, President Trump has increasingly targeted elite institutions, demanding they tackle antisemitism, end diversity programs, and take disciplinary action against students involved in protests.
Meanwhile, several students involved in pro-Palestinian protests have been detained by immigration officials, further escalating tensions on campuses across the country.
While the Trump administration has accused Harvard of failing to protect Jewish students, there is no official finding that the university itself is antisemitic.
Critics cite incidents tied to recent campus protests, while defenders argue that Harvard condemns antisemitism and is being unfairly targeted for political reasons.
The issue remains deeply polarizing, with ongoing debate about what constitutes legitimate criticism versus hateful rhetoric.
For Sanders, the issue appears to be bigger than just Harvard. His post suggests a broader concern over the erosion of civil liberties and the legal profession’s role in defending them: “Cowardly law firms should be defending those who believe in the rule of law.”
IMAGE CREDIT: “Bernie Sanders” by Jackson Lanier, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Image adjusted for layout.