Ali Velshi warns Harvard to avoid Trump's 'trap' amid ongoing dispute

Ali Velshi warns Harvard University to steer clear of President Trump's "trap" after the institution refused to accept a deal with the administration. Since President Donald Trump resumed office, he has launched a vigorous campaign against American universities, criticizing their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and imposing restrictions on free speech on campuses. To enforce compliance, his administration has suspended research grants, frozen federal funding, and revoked student visas—a strategy Velshi describes as a "pressure campaign" that has largely succeeded. Recent examples include Columbia University settling a civil rights lawsuit with the government and paying a $200 million fine amid allegations of antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian protests. The University of Pennsylvania agreed to limit transgender athletes' participation in sports, and Brown University announced it would prohibit transgender women from competing in women's sports and dismantle its DEI programs. However, Velshi highlights that not all institutions are capitulating. He points to Harvard University’s ongoing resistance, despite some pressure to comply. Recent reports reveal that nine ...