YDMA Stands with Harvard and International Students Amid Trump’s Threats

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 21st, 2025

Media Contact: Will Lombard

Vice President for Communications

communications@ydma.org

BOSTON, MA — The Young Democrats of Massachusetts (YDMA) strongly condemn President Donald Trump’s recent threats to defund Harvard University over its international student population and alleged political bias. These remarks are not just an attack on a single institution—they are an attack on academic freedom, diversity, and the rights of international students nationwide.

The suggestion that universities should be punished for welcoming free speech is deeply un-American and reflects a dangerous authoritarian mindset. Trump’s rhetoric not only puts international students at risk but also undermines the integrity of higher education nationwide.

Harvard, like many institutions, relies on federal funding to advance research into groundbreaking work to cure illnesses like ALS, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. Withholding federal funding on the basis of political ideology will cost the health, well-being, and lives of countless people around the world.

YDMA stands in solidarity with Harvard University, its international student community, and all institutions that value open discourse, inclusion, and academic independence. We will continue to fight for policies that protect students and uphold the core democratic values under attack.

###