Latest news with #JeaninePirro
The Independent
21 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
FACT FOCUS: Trump's claims about remedial math at Harvard don't add up
As the White House moves to revoke Harvard University's certification to enroll foreign students — escalating a battle between the administration and the oldest and wealthiest college in the U.S. — President Donald Trump is falsely claiming that Harvard offers 'remedial mathematics' on topics such as simple addition. He most recently took aim at the school's math offerings during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office on Wednesday for Interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host who was formerly a county prosecutor and elected judge, in response to a question from a reporter about how the 'confrontation' with Harvard will end. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: 'Harvard announced two weeks ago that they're going to teach remedial mathematics, remedial, meaning they're going to teach low grade mathematics like two plus two is four. How did these people get into Harvard? If they can't, if they can't do basic mathematics, how did they do it?' THE FACTS: Harvard does not offer a remedial math class covering basic arithmetic. Asked whether Trump was referring to a specific class, a White House spokesperson provided information about Mathematics MA5, which was introduced in the fall of 2024 as a new format for an existing course that offers extra support in calculus. The original course — Mathematics MA — is still offered. 'Harvard College does not offer any so-called remedial math classes,' said James Chisholm, a spokesperson for the university's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which encompasses its undergraduate program. He added: 'Math MA5 is a college-level calculus class. It is simply a new format of Math MA, the introductory freshman calculus course that has been taught at Harvard for decades.' Students in Mathematics MA and MA5 have the exact same homework, exams and grading structure, according to Chisholm. The only difference is that the former meets three days a week and the latter five days a week. They are both prerequisites for higher-level math courses. One question on a sample exam Chisholm provided asks students to write a formula for determining the total number of cases during a hypothetical epidemic after a certain amount of days. The Harvard Crimson reported in September that Director of Introductory Math Brendan Kelly said Mathematics MA5 is 'aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students' created by the COVID-19 pandemic. A course description notes that its 'extra support will target foundational skills in algebra, geometry, and quantitative reasoning.' Harvard Extension School, the university's continuing education program aimed at working adults, offers a precalculus course. Most students need only register to attend. Those who want to pursue a degree must first successfully complete two or three courses in their chosen field of study. Those earning a certificate or taking a single course must only meet certain enrollment requirements, such as English proficiency. Harvard College undergraduates, who must apply to the university and be admitted under its rigorous admission standards, are not allowed to cross-register for Harvard Extension School classes. 'Harvard Extension School is 100% distinct from Harvard College and the two have nothing to do with each other in terms of curriculum or students,' said Chisholm. Harvard's Rising Scholars Program, an invite-only opportunity for incoming Harvard College students from 'high schools that offered them limited college-level academic enrichment opportunities' offers a summer course for students who need an additional foundation on topics such as precalculus and algebra. 'The important point on Rising Scholars is it's more about the incoming student's high school than the individual student's ability,' said Chisholm. Harvard has also offered an Emerging Scholars Program to similarly support freshmen enrolled in introductory calculus who are interested in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in an effort to 'correct systemic inequalities in math and science K-12 education that have affected our college students for many years.' The median math score for the most recently enrolled undergraduate class at Harvard College was 790 out of 800 on the SATs and 35 out of 36 on the ACTs. The average high school GPA was 4.2. 'There is no university in America that is as difficult to earn admission to as Harvard — no matter your demographics,' said Brian Taylor, managing partner at the college counseling service Ivy Coach. 'President Trump's math in this case simply doesn't add up.' ___
Associated Press
21 hours ago
- General
- Associated Press
FACT FOCUS: Trump's claims about remedial math at Harvard don't add up
As the White House moves to revoke Harvard University's certification to enroll foreign students — escalating a battle between the administration and the oldest and wealthiest college in the U.S. — President Donald Trump is falsely claiming that Harvard offers 'remedial mathematics' on topics such as simple addition. He most recently took aim at the school's math offerings during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office on Wednesday for Interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host who was formerly a county prosecutor and elected judge, in response to a question from a reporter about how the 'confrontation' with Harvard will end. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: 'Harvard announced two weeks ago that they're going to teach remedial mathematics, remedial, meaning they're going to teach low grade mathematics like two plus two is four. How did these people get into Harvard? If they can't, if they can't do basic mathematics, how did they do it?' THE FACTS: Harvard does not offer a remedial math class covering basic arithmetic. Asked whether Trump was referring to a specific class, a White House spokesperson provided information about Mathematics MA5, which was introduced in the fall of 2024 as a new format for an existing course that offers extra support in calculus. The original course — Mathematics MA — is still offered. 'Harvard College does not offer any so-called remedial math classes,' said James Chisholm, a spokesperson for the university's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which encompasses its undergraduate program. He added: 'Math MA5 is a college-level calculus class. It is simply a new format of Math MA, the introductory freshman calculus course that has been taught at Harvard for decades.' Students in Mathematics MA and MA5 have the exact same homework, exams and grading structure, according to Chisholm. The only difference is that the former meets three days a week and the latter five days a week. They are both prerequisites for higher-level math courses. One question on a sample exam Chisholm provided asks students to write a formula for determining the total number of cases during a hypothetical epidemic after a certain amount of days. The Harvard Crimson reported in September that Director of Introductory Math Brendan Kelly said Mathematics MA5 is 'aimed at rectifying a lack of foundational algebra skills among students' created by the COVID-19 pandemic. A course description notes that its 'extra support will target foundational skills in algebra, geometry, and quantitative reasoning.' Harvard Extension School, the university's continuing education program aimed at working adults, offers a precalculus course. Most students need only register to attend. Those who want to pursue a degree must first successfully complete two or three courses in their chosen field of study. Those earning a certificate or taking a single course must only meet certain enrollment requirements, such as English proficiency. Harvard College undergraduates, who must apply to the university and be admitted under its rigorous admission standards, are not allowed to cross-register for Harvard Extension School classes. 'Harvard Extension School is 100% distinct from Harvard College and the two have nothing to do with each other in terms of curriculum or students,' said Chisholm. Harvard's Rising Scholars Program, an invite-only opportunity for incoming Harvard College students from 'high schools that offered them limited college-level academic enrichment opportunities' offers a summer course for students who need an additional foundation on topics such as precalculus and algebra. 'The important point on Rising Scholars is it's more about the incoming student's high school than the individual student's ability,' said Chisholm. Harvard has also offered an Emerging Scholars Program to similarly support freshmen enrolled in introductory calculus who are interested in fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in an effort to 'correct systemic inequalities in math and science K-12 education that have affected our college students for many years.' The median math score for the most recently enrolled undergraduate class at Harvard College was 790 out of 800 on the SATs and 35 out of 36 on the ACTs. The average high school GPA was 4.2. 'There is no university in America that is as difficult to earn admission to as Harvard — no matter your demographics,' said Brian Taylor, managing partner at the college counseling service Ivy Coach. 'President Trump's math in this case simply doesn't add up.' ___ Find AP Fact Checks here:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Melts Down at ‘Why Do You Always Chicken Out' Question
Donald Trump had an Oval Office meltdown over Wall Street's new acronym for his tariffs: TACO Trade, which stands for Trump Always Chickens Out. As Trump took questions during a swearing-in ceremony for Washington D.C.'s new acting attorney general, Jeanine Pirro, a reporter asked the president what he thought of the new phrase. He was clearly unimpressed. 'I chicken out?' he asked. 'I've never heard that. You mean because I reduced China from the 145 percent that I said, down to 100, and then down to another number, and I said: 'You have to open up your whole country? 'And because I gave the European Union a 50 percent tax tariff, and they called up and they said, 'Please let's meet right now? 'It's called negotiation!' he added. The term TACO trade was coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong earlier this month as the world struggled to make sense of Trump's on-again-off-again trade wars. But the chicken moniker has since taken off among the investors on Wall Street, given the president's tendency to walk back many of his threats. For instance, Trump postponed so-called reciprocal tariffs against trading partners a week after his Liberation Day announcement on April 2. He had threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, including steel and aluminum, but later announced a one-month pause. And for all the tough talk on China, he slashed tariffs against the country not long after they were announced. Over the weekend, Trump also delayed a 50 percent tariff on imports from the European Union until July 9. However, he insists the rollercoaster negotiations are all part of the plan. As for the question about being a chicken? 'Don't ever say what you said,' he told the reporter. 'That's a nasty question.' Later, he added: 'I usually have the opposite problem. They say I am too tough.'
Sinar Daily
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Trump names Fox News host as top Washington prosecutor
The brash 73-year-old has been selected to work as interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, plucked from one of Trump's favourite hiring pools: right-leaning television networks. 09 May 2025 01:19pm Jeanine Pirro speaks following an exclusive interview with Daniel Penny for Fox Nation on Dec 10, 2024 in New York City.(Photo by John Lamparski / AFP) WASHINGTON - Donald Trump on Thursday appointed TV personality and former judge Jeanine Pirro to a key post in the US judiciary, the president's latest nomination of a Fox News on-air host to a position of government power. The brash 73-year-old has been selected to work as interim US Attorney for the District of Columbia, plucked from one of Trump's favourite hiring pools: right-leaning television networks. Other hires from cable news include Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted "Fox & Friends Weekend," and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a former reality TV show competitor and Fox Business co-host. The pick came soon after Trump pulled his first choice for the post, a defense lawyer who represented defendants charged in the Jan 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol. Judge Jeanine Pirro of Fox News Network makes remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor, Maryland, Feb 23, 2017. - (Photo by Mike Theiler / AFP) "I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, describing the former district attorney of New York's Westchester County as being "in a class by herself." Pirro briefly entered politics in ill-fated attempts to run for the US Senate and for New York Attorney General, losing the latter race to Democrat Andrew Cuomo. She began earning wider public exposure by hosting a weekday television show, "Judge Jeanine Pirro," from 2008 to 2011. That year she joined Fox News Channel to host "Justice with Judge Jeanine," which ran for 11 years, and today she is a co-host of the network's show, "The Five." Pirro has also authored several books, including "Liars, Leakers, and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy," from 2018. The Washington Post described the book as "sycophantic" in its support for Trump. After promoting unfounded conspiracy theories alleging election fraud in 2020, Pirro was named a defendant in a defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, which said Fox broadcast false statements about the company. Fox News settled the case for nearly $800 million. - AFP More Like This
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Donald Trump rips reporter who asked if he ‘always chickens out' on tariff threats: ‘That's a nasty question'
President Trump bristled when asked by a reporter Wednesday whether markets have been calm in the face of his tariff spree because they believe he 'always chickens out' on tariff threats, blasting the question as 'nasty.' During a brief gaggle in the Oval Office after the swearing in of Interim Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro, CNBC White House correspondent Megan Casella asked Trump about his credibility on tariffs. 'Mr. President, Wall Street analysts have coined a new term called the TACO trade. They're saying 'Trump always chickens out' on your tariff threats. And that's why markets are higher this week. What's your response to that?' she asked. Trump appeared frustrated by the question, which seemingly referenced Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong's assessment of how Wall Street is interpreting the administration's tariffs. 'Oh, isn't that nice. Chicken out. I've never heard that,' Trump replied before turning indignant. 'You mean because I reduced China from 145% that I set down to 100 and then down to another number. I said you have to open your whole country.' 'And because I gave the European Union a 50% … tariff and they called up and they said, 'Please let's meet right now,' he added. 'And I said, 'I'll give you until July' … you call that chickening out? 'Six months ago, this country was stone-cold dead,' he later said. 'People didn't think it would survive, and you ask a nasty question like that. It's called negotiation … Don't ever say what you said. That's a nasty question.' Back on April 2, which he dubbed 'Liberation Day,' Trump had fired off a 10% baseline tariff rate, then a blitz of customized rates against virtually every country on the planet. The move sent markets into a nosedive. But just before the customized rates were poised to take effect, Trump announced that he would pause all of them, except the one on China, until July 8 to give his trade team time to negotiate lightning deals with countries. Markets quickly began rebounding. The Trump administration has since cut a deal with China, subject to his highest tariff rates, to reduce them to about 30% temporarily while negotiations play out. 'We have $14 trillion committed to investing when Biden didn't have practically anything — this country was dying,' he added. 'You know, we have the hottest country anywhere in the world. 'I went to Saudi Arabia. The king told me, he said, 'You have the hottest country in the world right now,'' Trump added. Earlier this week, the president agreed to delay the deadline he imposed against the European Union from June 1 to July 9, during which he's threatened to slap 50% tariffs on the bloc. The move came after a call with EU President Ursula von der Leyen. The Trump administration previously imposed 25% tariffs on automobiles, aluminum, steel and imports from Canada and Mexico that don't comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. That's in addition to the baseline 10% tariff rate on all imports and the 30% tariffs on China. Originally published as Donald Trump rips reporter who asked if he 'always chickens out' on tariff threats: 'That's a nasty question'
