The conflict between Donald Trump and Harvard University reflects a longstanding struggle by conservatives to influence American academia. After Harvard's president rejected demands for government-approved staffing and curriculum oversight, Trump responded aggressively, underscoring a broader movement to reshape U.S. democracy. Experts warn that these tactics, rooted in historical trends of authoritarianism, pose serious risks to both higher education and democratic principles. This development signifies not only an assault on educational institutions but also a potentially global threat to democratic values, as articulated by leaders in the academic community.
"They're attempting to undermine and destabilize and ultimately control higher education... it's an assault on higher education, it could be seen as prevalent to a full-on assault on democracy."
"This fight by conservatives dates back to Ronald Reagan, all the way to McCarthyism, as the right wing scraps to seize more control in a manner that is part of a standard playbook of authoritarianism."
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