Latest news with #RadicalLeft
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Trump wants to block funding for California over trans athlete participation
President Trump is pressuring California officials to prevent a transgender student from competing in the girls' state track and field finals there, threatening to withhold funding if they don't comply. Without naming the student, Mr. Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday, advising that federal funding "will be held back, maybe permanently," if state and local authorities don't do as he says. The president signed an executive order in February banning transgender girls and women from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity, and stating that it's the policy of the U.S. to "rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities." Mr. Trump said he'll be speaking with California Gov. Gavin Newsom about the situation soon, although it's unclear if they have a call scheduled. "California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow 'MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS,'" the president wrote on social media, adding that California is allowing a trans student to compete. "THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS," Mr. Trump continued. "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. The Governor, himself, said it is 'UNFAIR.' I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!" The White House did not immediately respond with further details about the student or the president's intention to speak with Newsom. AB Hernandez, a high school junior track and field athlete at Jurupa Valley High School, has received significant national attention after winning the long jump and triple jump at the CIF Southern Section Division III finals earlier this month, according to the posted results. Hernandez's participation has been met with backlash from conservative groups who say the high school junior shouldn't be competing on the girls' team. "As previously stated, JUSD is required to follow both California law and CIF policy regarding school athletics," Jurupa Unified School District said in a statement provided to CBS News. "Both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be permitted to participate in athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil's records. We remain committed to following the law as written and ensuring that all students are granted the rights afforded to them in a safe and welcoming environment." Keeping "men out of women's sports" was a frequent refrain for Mr. Trump on the campaign trail, something he's trying to follow through on in office. Last month, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit against Maine's Department of Education for "discriminating against women by failing to protect women in women's sports" in what Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged is a violation of Title IX. Bondi said when the lawsuit was filed that more suits against other states could come.
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Trump mulls redirecting $3 billion in Harvard grants to trade schools
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Monday he is considering taking $3 billion of previously awarded grant money for scientific and engineering research away from Harvard University and giving it to trade schools. His comments on his social media platform Truth Social come less than a week after his administration sought to block the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students as part of Trump's extraordinary effort to seize some government control of US academia. Trump, a Republican, has frozen some $3 billion in federal grants to Harvard in recent weeks, complaining that it has hired Democrats, "Radical Left idiots and 'bird brains'" as professors. Harvard, a private university, has sued to restore the funding, saying the cuts are an unconstitutional attack on its free speech rights and unlawful. Most of that grant money is appropriated by Congress for the National Institutes of Health to disburse to fund biomedical research after a lengthy application process by individual scientists, work that is not typically done at trade schools. It was not clear whether Trump was referring to Harvard grants his administration has already frozen. Harvard has said it was told that virtually all of its federal grant awards were revoked earlier in May, in a series of letters by the NIH, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and other agencies. The letters each said the grants were being suspended because they "no longer effectuate agency priorities." Harvard did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. The White House did not respond to questions about the specific funds Trump wants to repurpose or how it could be reallocated to trade schools under the law. On Friday, a US judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, a policy the university said was part of Trump's broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to "surrender its academic independence." The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students, who were faced with potentially having to transfer under a policy that the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts called a "blatant violation" of the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws. It said the move would have an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders. Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, representing 27 percent of total enrollment and a significant chunk of its revenue from tuition fees. The move was the latest escalation in a broader battle between Harvard and the White House, as Trump seeks to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions to align with his agenda. Trump and fellow Republicans have long accused elite universities of left-wing bias. In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard's tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its endowment, and opened an investigation into whether it violated civil rights laws by discriminating against "white, Asian, male, or straight employees" or job or training program applicants. Harvard has said its hiring and admissions are compliant with the law. — Reuters
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Trump Considers Redirecting $3 Billion in Harvard Grants to US Trade Schools
Reuters A student walks on the Allston campus of Harvard University, in Allston, Massachusetts, U.S., May 23, 2025. WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he is considering taking $3 billion of previously awarded grant money for scientific and engineering research away from Harvard University and giving it to trade schools. His comments on his social media platform Truth Social come less than a week after his administration sought to block the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students as part of Trump's extraordinary effort to seize some government control of U.S. academia. Trump, a Republican, has frozen some $3 billion in federal grants to Harvard in recent weeks, complaining that it has hired Democrats, 'Radical Left idiots and 'bird brains'' as professors. Harvard, a private university, has sued to restore the funding, saying the cuts are an unconstitutional attack on its free speech rights and unlawful. Most of that grant money is appropriated by Congress for the National Institutes of Health to disburse to fund biomedical research after a lengthy application process by individual scientists, work that is not typically done at trade schools. It was not clear whether Trump was referring to Harvard grants his administration has already frozen. Harvard has said it was told that virtually all of its federal grant awards were revoked earlier in May, in a series of letters by the NIH, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and other agencies. The letters each said the grants were being suspended because they 'no longer effectuate agency priorities.' Harvard did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. The White House did not respond to questions about the specific funds Trump wants to repurpose or how it could be reallocated to trade schools under the law. On Friday, a U.S. judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, a policy the university said was part of Trump's broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to 'surrender its academic independence.' The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students, who were faced with potentially having to transfer under a policy that the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts called a 'blatant violation' of the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws. It said the move would have an 'immediate and devastating effect' on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders. Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, representing 27% of total enrollment and a significant chunk of its revenue from tuition fees. The move was the latest escalation in a broader battle between Harvard and the White House, as Trump seeks to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions to align with his agenda. Trump and fellow Republicans have long accused elite universities of left-wing bias. In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard's tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its endowment, and opened an investigation into whether it violated civil rights laws by discriminating against 'white, Asian, male, or straight employees' or job or training program applicants. Harvard has said its hiring and admissions are compliant with the law.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Trump considers redirecting $3b in Harvard grants to US trade schools
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- United States President Donald Trump said on Monday he is considering taking $3 billion of previously awarded grant money for scientific and engineering research away from Harvard University and giving it to trade schools. His comments on his social media platform Truth Social come less than a week after his administration sought to block the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students as part of Trump's extraordinary effort to seize some government control of US academia. Trump, a Republican, has frozen some $3 billion in federal grants to Harvard in recent weeks, complaining that it has hired Democrats, "Radical Left idiots and 'bird brains'" as professors. Harvard, a private university, has sued to restore the funding, saying the cuts are an unconstitutional attack on its free speech rights and unlawful. Most of that grant money is appropriated by Congress for the National Institutes of Health to disburse to fund biomedical research after a lengthy application process by individual scientists, work that is not typically done at trade schools. It was not clear whether Trump was referring to Harvard grants his administration has already frozen. Harvard has said it was told that virtually all of its federal grant awards were revoked earlier in May, in a series of letters by the NIH, the US Forest Service, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and other agencies. The letters each said the grants were being suspended because they "no longer effectuate agency priorities." Harvard did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. The White House did not respond to questions about the specific funds Trump wants to repurpose or how it could be reallocated to trade schools under the law. On Friday, a US judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students, a policy the university said was part of Trump's broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to "surrender its academic independence." The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students, who were faced with potentially having to transfer under a policy that the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts called a "blatant violation" of the US Constitution and other federal laws. It said the move would have an "immediate and devastating effect" on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders. Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, representing 27 percent of total enrollment and a significant chunk of its revenue from tuition fees. The move was the latest escalation in a broader battle between Harvard and the White House, as Trump seeks to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions to align with his agenda. Trump and fellow Republicans have long accused elite universities of left-wing bias. In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard's tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its endowment, and opened an investigation into whether it violated civil rights laws by discriminating against "white, Asian, male, or straight employees" or job or training program applicants. Harvard has said its hiring and admissions are compliant with the law.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Trump says he's pardoning a Virginia sheriff convicted on bribery charges
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he is pardoning a former Virginia sheriff who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury convicted him on federal bribery charges for deputizing several businessmen in exchange for cash payments. Former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, 53, was found guilty on fraud and bribery charges and sentenced in March. But on Monday, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that Jenkins and his family 'have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ.' 'This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn't deserve to spend a single day in jail. He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters,' and 'left for dead,' Trump said in the post. 'He will NOT be going to jail tomorrow, but instead will have a wonderful and productive life.' Messages seeking comment were left with Jenkins' lawyers. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia was closed for the Memorial Day holiday. Jenkins is the latest pardon Trump has given to loyal supporters. In April, he pardoned Nevada Republican Michele Fiore, who was awaiting sentencing on federal charges that she used money meant for a statue honoring a slain police officer for personal costs, including plastic surgery. In January, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, an underground website for selling drugs. Ulbricht had been sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after a high-profile prosecution that highlighted the internet's role in illegal markets. He also pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people convicted of assaulting police officers. Jenkins was indicted in 2023 on 16 counts — including conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery — concerning programs receiving federal funds. In December, a jury found him guilty of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery. Jenkins took the stand in his own defense and said there was no connection between the payments he received and the badges he handed out, according to news reports. Testifying against Jenkins were two undercover FBI agents who were sworn in as auxiliary deputies in 2022 and immediately thereafter gave Jenkins envelopes with $5,000 and $10,000 cash, respectively. Jenkins appealed his conviction in April. Trump said Jenkins tried to offer evidence in his defense, but U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou, a Biden appointee, 'refused to allow it, shut him down, and then went on a tirade.' Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said at the time that Jenkins violated his oath of office 'and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable.' Martha Bellisle, The Associated Press
