Steven Pinker, Harvard University Professor of Psychology, says “The Trump administration is following the handbook of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships” by going after universities that potentially oppose its policies.

Cambridge

Harvard University Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker has commented on the Trump administration's recent actions regarding foreign students at U.S. universities. Pinker stated that these actions align with tactics used by authoritarian regimes, describing efforts to undermine organizations that could potentially oppose government policies. He cited examples such as targeting law firms, media organizations, and the courts as institutions the administration has tried to weaken.

Pinker addressed claims from the administration that universities like Harvard promote an environment hostile to certain groups, including Israeli students, and are breeding grounds for anti-Semitism. He acknowledged isolated incidents of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that crossed lines, but stated that Harvard has clarified guidelines for acceptable protests and centralized its disciplinary processes. As a Jewish faculty member, Pinker described Harvard as a welcoming environment for Jewish students and staff, asserting that the administration’s stated concerns are exaggerated and used as a pretext for targeting independent institutions.

He further argued that recent administrative actions, such as barring foreign students, could have negative effects on scientific progress and career opportunities. Pinker emphasized the value of having international students at Harvard, stating that their presence enriches education and fosters global understanding. He noted that restricting foreign students could harm not only the university but also American civil society, the economy, and broader academic collaboration.



Harvard professor discusses Trump admin barring foreign students

Well, it's often been said that the Trump administration is following the handbook of authoritarian regimes and dictatorships, of trying to cripple civil society organizations outside of government that they worry could serve as centers of people opposing the government's policies. So they've gone after law firms, they've gone after media organizations, they've gone after the courts, anything that isn't part of the executive branch of the government and that could serve as a counterweight or a brick, they're trying to disable. And we heard from the administration, they were saying, you know, by promoting DI, promoting indifference, also the argument is they're hostile to Israeli students, a breeding ground of anti-Semitism. What do you make of those arguments that this administration is putting forward? Oh, they're wildly exaggerated. There is a grain of truth to them. I have an article in The Times this morning called Harvard Derangement Syndrome, of how some flaws and shortcomings that we're trying to deal with have been blown to crease proportions. It is true that there have been some pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have crossed the line into disruption, and Harvard had a confused response to them when they occurred. But the discipline has now been centralized, the guidelines for acceptable protests have been clarified. So it is something that Harvard is trying to deal with. But Harvard is a, as a Jewish faculty member myself, I can say it's a perfectly congenial place for Jewish students and faculty, and this is a pretext. This is an administration that has had Holocaust deniers and Nazi sympathizers to the White House for dinner. They don't care about anti-Semitism, and if anything, this action is harming the Jewish population because it's saying, we're going to shut down science, we're going to end careers, we're going to end career aspirations in order to further Jewish interests. Believe me, Jewish interests did not ask for that, and it is harmful to the Jews, and it is simply a pretext to punish independent institutions. And I imagine, Professor, that this will go down a legal route, that Harvard will fight this as long as it can. But can you speak here to the impact, if this were to go ahead, not just on Harvard University, but also on civil society, on America as well, on America's growth and economy, what these students bring, of course, and what the U.S. students get from each other, of course, the collaboration between everyone, between all these students? Absolutely. Absolutely. It's part of a Harvard education that you learn about other parts of the world, and how better to learn about it than to actually have conversations with people who come from other parts of the world.

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Ahmedabad

Air India crash report shows confusion over engine switch movement

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike kills children near medical clinic in Gaza

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia launches more strikes, damages Ukraine maternity hospital

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu returns to Israel without Gaza ceasefire deal

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Camarillo

Protesters clash with ICE agents over immigration operation

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Washington

Global Tariffs

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Center Point

Urgent search operations for flood victims stretch miles in Texas

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Texas

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Kuala Lumpur

Top U.S., Russia diplomats discuss Ukraine on ASEAN sidelines

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Ventura County

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Los Angeles

31 trapped workers rescued after tunnel collapse

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San Francisco

Yaccarino steps down as CEO of Elon Musk's X

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Moscow

Trump calls out Putin for stalled peace talks

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Kerr County

Recovery operations ongoing in Texas as more than 160 still missing

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that he issued tariff letters to Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova and the Philippines.

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Sana'a

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U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back during his Cabinet meeting about a question regarding Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ claims Epstein had no list of clients, which is drawing criticism from some of the president's supporters.

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Ontario

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Marseille

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