White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was called out after she appeared on Fox News to complain about certain Harvard University students amid the Trump administration's ongoing legal battle, saying that the U.S. needs more trade workers and fewer "LGBTQ graduate majors" from the historic institution.
Leavitt appeared on the network as news broke that the Trump administration plans to terminate all remaining federal contracts with Harvard. The contracts, valued at approximately $100 million, are set to be canceled according to a directive issued to federal agencies in a letter sent on Tuesday.
She defended the move, saying:
“The president is more interested in giving that taxpayer money to trade schools and programs and state schools where they are promoting American values but, most importantly, educating the next generation based on skills that we need in our economy and our society."
“Apprenticeships, electricians, plumbers — we need more of those in our country and less LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard University and that’s what this administration’s position is."
You can hear what she said in the video below.
Leavitt was criticized for her bizarre rant.
Since last month, the Trump administration has frozen approximately $3.2 billion in federal grants and contracts with Harvard University and moved to restrict the school’s ability to enroll international students.
In its latest directive, the administration instructed federal agencies to submit by June 6 a list of Harvard-related contracts slated for termination.
While contracts deemed critical to federal operations would not be canceled immediately, they would be transitioned to alternative vendors, according to a letter signed by Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the General Services Administration’s Federal Acquisition Service, which oversees government procurement.
The administration has justified its actions by accusing Harvard of harboring liberal bias, continuing to incorporate racial considerations in its admissions process despite a Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the practice, and failing to adequately address antisemitic incidents on campus.
Harvard, in response, has framed the dispute as a matter of First Amendment protections. The university contends that the Trump administration is overstepping its authority by attempting to exert influence over its staffing decisions, academic content, and student enrollment.