Latest news with #JeffSessions
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Trump's war on Harvard shows no sign of stopping
In January 2017, just a week after taking office, US President Donald Trump signed the now-infamous travel ban , barring citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. Harvard's then-president, Drew Faust, issued a sharply worded open letter almost immediately, reaffirming the importance of international students and scholars to the university's 'identity and excellence'. Trump didn't respond publicly, but it is well known that he holds grudges. Advertisement By September that same year, then-attorney general Jeff Sessions announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a policy from the Obama administration for young undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children. Harvard responded the same day, with Faust writing that 'this cruel policy recognises neither justice nor mercy'. The university offered undocumented students legal counsel and advisory support. In July 2020, as Covid-19 raged, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency declared that if classes were held online in the autumn, international students would have to leave the US or transfer to a school with in-person instruction. Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology filed a joint lawsuit In court, Harvard made the case before US District Judge Allison Burroughs, appointed during the Obama administration, that many of its international students could not return home because of global travel restrictions. Only a week after issuing the guidance, the government withdrew the rule Fast forward to May 22 this year. The second Trump administration's Department of Homeland Security announced the cancellation of Harvard's eligibility to enrol international students , citing 'fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus'. The world was stunned. Advertisement
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
US Sen. Tommy Tuberville announces 2026 bid for Alabama governor
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who entered politics after a successful career as a head football coach at Auburn and three other major college programs, announced Tuesday that he is running for governor of Alabama next year. His announcement on the Will Cain Show on Fox News followed weeks of speculation, and associates saying Tuberville planned to enter the race. 'I'm doing this to help this country and the great state of Alabama,' Tuberville said. The former coach is expected to be a formidable entry in the governor's race. Two-term Republican Gov. Kay Ivey cannot run again because of term limits. Tuberville harnessed fame from his college coaching days to win election to the U.S. Senate in 2020, casting himself as a political outsider closely aligned with President Donald Trump. 'God sent us Donald Trump,' Tuberville said during his campaign. Bill Armistead, the former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, said Tuberville's presence will make other would-be candidates 'think twice' about jumping in the gubernatorial race. 'I would be very surprised if Senator Tuberville is not elected governor of the state of Alabama,' Armistead said. Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who had been expected to run for governor, announced last week that he would not seek the office. In the 2020 Republican primary, Tuberville defeated former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who held the Senate seat for two decades before resigning to become Trump's attorney general in 2017. Months later, Tuberville defeated incumbent Doug Jones, who had been the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in decades. During his time in the Senate, Tuberville has continued to align himself closely with Trump. In 2023, he maintained a monthslong blockade on military promotions over his opposition to a Pentagon policy that provided travel funds and support for troops and their dependents who seek abortions but are based in states where they are now illegal. Tuberville, a native of Arkansas, was the head football coach at Auburn from 1999 to 2008, where he led the team to eight consecutive bowl appearances and one Southeastern Conference championship. He also served as head coach at Mississippi, Texas Tech and the University of Cincinnati, retiring in 2016. He is sometimes referred to as 'Coach' instead of 'senator' by those that work with him. Club for Growth PAC last week preemptively week endorsed Tuberville in the governor's race 'should he announce his candidacy.' Tuberville faced questions about his residency in the 2020 Senate race, where his political opponents referred to him as a 'Florida man' or a 'tourist in Alabama' as they questioned if he lived in the state. The Alabama Constitution requires that governors must have been 'resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election.' Property tax records show he owns a $270,000 home in Auburn, where he claims a homestead exemption, and a $4 million beach home in Walton County, Florida. Voting records show that Tuberville switched his voter registration from Florida to Alabama in 2019. He and his wife last voted in Florida on Nov. 6, 2018.
