Obama says Harvard 'set an example' for how colleges should reject Trump's demands

Former President Barack Obama says Harvard University has "set an example" for how colleges should respond to President Trump's demands for change – even at the risk of losing billions in federal funding.

He posted his thoughts on social media late Monday, after the Trump administration called for Harvard to make changes including an end to antisemitism. After the Ivy League school said no, the administration froze $2.2 billion in federal grants and $60 million in contracts.

"Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect," Obama wrote on the social media platform X.

Obama attended Harvard's law school and in 1990 became the Harvard Law Review's first black president.

Some of the administration's demands included implementing merit-based hiring, reforming programs with a history of antisemitism and getting rid of "diversity, equity and inclusion" policies.

Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not comply with these demands.