Harvard's Decision to Resist Trump Is of 'Momentous Significance'

University's $2.2 Billion Funding Frozen for Defying Prez's Campus Demands

- Elisabeth Bumiller

Harvard University is 140 years older than the United States (US), has an endowment greater than the gross domestic product (GDP) of nearly 100 countries and has educated eight American presidents. So if an institution was going to stand up to the Trump administration's war on academia, Harvard would be at the top of the list.

Harvard did that forcefully on Monday in a way that injected energy into other universities across the country fearful of the president's wrath, rejecting the Trump administration's demands on hiring, admissions and curriculum.

Some commentators went so far as to say that Harvard's decision would empower law firms, the courts, the media and other targets of the White House to push back as well.

"This is of momentous, momentous significance," said J Michael Luttig, a prominent former federal appeals court judge revered by many conservatives. "This should be the turning point in the president's rampage against American institutions."