His recent comments regarding the clash between Harvard University and the Department of Education exemplify this belief: if you are targeted by the administration, the blame falls on you.
The clash between Harvard University and the Department of Education began when the university announced that it would not be accepting the funds allocated to it through the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. The university cited concerns about the restrictions placed on the funds, specifically the requirement that the money be used exclusively for emergency financial aid grants to students.
In response, the Department of Education issued a statement accusing Harvard of “wealthy institutions taking taxpayer funds while sitting on large endowments.” Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos went even further, stating that Harvard’s decision was “shameful” and that the university should return the funds immediately.
President Trump, never one to shy away from controversy, took to Twitter to express his outrage at Harvard’s decision. In a series of tweets, he accused the university of taking advantage of the American taxpayer and threatened to investigate the matter further.
This clash between Harvard and the Department of Education is just the latest example of President Trump’s belief that if you are targeted by his administration, the blame falls squarely on you. This belief has been evident in his handling of other high-profile conflicts, such as his feud with the NFL over players kneeling during the national anthem and his ongoing battle with the media.
In each of these cases, President Trump has made it clear that he believes those who oppose him are responsible for any consequences that may arise. This attitude has created a climate of fear and intimidation, where individuals and institutions are hesitant to speak out against the administration for fear of retaliation.
But this raises an important question: should individuals and institutions be held accountable for standing up for what they believe in, even if it means going against the President of the United States? Should they be punished for exercising their right to free speech and dissent?
As the clash between Harvard and the Department of Education continues to unfold, it is clear that this is a question that must be answered. The outcome of this conflict will set a precedent for how other institutions and individuals are treated by the Trump administration in the future.
In the meantime, Harvard University remains steadfast in its decision not to accept the funds allocated to it through the CARES Act. The university has stated that it will continue to provide financial aid to its students using its own resources, rather than accepting money with strings attached from the federal government.
It remains to be seen how the Department of Education and the Trump administration will respond to Harvard’s defiance. Will they follow through on their threats to investigate the university further, or will they back down in the face of mounting criticism?
One thing is certain: the clash between Harvard and the Department of Education is far from over. And as long as President Trump continues to believe that the blame falls on those who oppose him, conflicts like this are likely to continue to arise. The question now is, how will we as a society respond to this climate of fear and intimidation?