Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., joins “Hannity” to discuss her questioning of Harvard’s now former president, Claudine Gay, about antisemitism on campus. Former President Obama reportedly went to bat for Harvard University’s now-former president behind the scenes in an attempt to keep her in the university’s top role, but he has been silent since the resignation announcement ignited a firestorm on social media.
A confidential source familiar with the matter told Jewish Insider in late December that Obama, a Harvard graduate, had privately lobbied on Claudine Gay’s behalf after her congressional appearance about antisemitism and threats against Jewish students on the Ivy League campus. “It sounded like people were being asked to close ranks to keep the broader administration stable, including its composition,” the source said of Obama’s involvement.
However, Obama’s efforts to save Gay’s job were unsuccessful. Gay announced Tuesday that she is stepping down as the school’s president but will remain as a member of the faculty. Digital reached out to Obama’s office multiple times for comment but did not receive a response.
“This is not a decision I came to easily,” Gay wrote in her resignation letter to the Harvard community. “Indeed, it has been difficult beyond words because I have looked forward to working with so many of you to advance the commitment to academic excellence that has propelled this great university across centuries. But, after consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.”
Gay’s tenure as the shortest Harvard presidency in the university’s history came to a close after she testified before Congress last month and struggled to answer a direct question from New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik about condemning genocide against Jewish people as something that violated Harvard’s code of conduct.
After her congressional testimony, Gay issued an apology, and the university’s board ultimately decided to stick by her despite widespread calls from donors and members of Congress for her ouster. The hearing came in response to rising antisemitism at American universities following Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in southern Israel.
However, in the wake of Gay’s resignation, calls for Harvard to address what some have called “cultural rot” within the institution have intensified, particularly from advocates for Jewish students. The resignation also highlighted a series of plagiarism allegations against Gay, with nearly 50 instances of alleged plagiarism in her published works.
“Elise Stefanik won,” Indiana GOP Rep. Jim Banks posted on X on Tuesday. “Barack Obama lost.” Stefanik also criticized the resignation, stating that neither Gay’s resignation nor the statement from the Harvard Corporation included any apology for the morally bankrupt testimony or a mention of their failure to protect Jewish students on campus or a pledge to combat antisemitism.
As the controversy continues, it remains to be seen how Harvard will handle the aftermath of Gay’s resignation and address the concerns of its students and stakeholders.
