Public Outrage Directed at Harvard, Penn, and MIT Presidents for Controversial Testimony on Antisemitism and Genocide

During a House hearing on antisemitism on campus and calls for genocide in Israel, the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania faced criticism from business leaders, donors, and politicians for their responses to questions about whether calling for the genocide of Jews violates their schools' code of conduct on bullying or harassment.

None of the school leaders stated that advocating for the genocide of Jews would automatically breach their code of conduct. Instead, they clarified that it would be contingent on the specific circumstances and conduct.

In a post on X, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla expressed feeling "ashamed" upon hearing the testimony, denouncing it as "one of the most detestable moments in the history of US academia."

Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania denounced Penn President Liz Magill's statements as "unacceptable" and "shameful" while speaking outside a falafel shop in Philadelphia that had been targeted by protesters. Shapiro further urged the UPenn board of trustees to convene and evaluate whether Magill's remarks align with the university's values and principles.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre unequivocally stated to CNN's MJ Lee on Wednesday that any calls for genocide at universities were deemed "unacceptable." In addition, private equity billionaire Marc Rowan conveyed concerns to Penn trustees about the shocking nature of the hearing, noting that he had received messages from hundreds of alumni, parents, and leaders, with at least one expressing hope that the hearing was not genuine.

Rowan expressed in the message obtained by CNN that the University is indeed suffering significant reputational damage, and questioned how much more damage the institution is willing to endure. Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman demanded the resignation of the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania, expressing his disgust with their testimony.

During the hearing, Ackman noted that the three individuals acted as hostile witnesses, showing contempt for Congress with their smiles and smirks, and their refusal to answer basic questions with a simple yes or no. He also shared a clip from the hearing where the university leaders were questioned about calls for the genocide of Jews, demonstrating his ongoing critique of how universities address antisemitism.

Ackman declared that they all must step down in shame, emphasizing that if a CEO in their company gave a comparable response, they would promptly face consequences. He criticized the answers given as a reflection of the severe moral failure of Presidents Gay, Magill, and Kornbluth. This was in reaction to Penn President Liz Magill's response to Rep. Elise Stefanik's question about the violation of Penn's code of conduct in relation to calling for the genocide of Jews, to which Magill stated, "It is a context dependent decision."

Stefanik was shocked by the response.

Ackman vehemently condemned the response, expressing concern over the rise of antisemitism on campus and globally. He singled out leaders like Presidents Gay, Magill, and Kornbluth, accusing them of condoning genocide based on the context.

The university leaders faced such strong criticism that Harvard and Penn had to release new statements in an effort to clarify the testimony.

Magill released a brief video on Wednesday evening, echoing Gay's comments and announcing that the university would promptly review and clarify its policies on hate speech.

Magill pointed out that antisemitic rhetoric is intended to intimidate and scare Jewish people and evoke memories of historical atrocities like the Holocaust and pogroms, as well as more recent acts of violence against them.

Representatives at MIT were not immediately available to respond to the criticism.

Condemning Harvard but forgiving Musk

Ackman has been engaged in a very public dispute with Harvard's administration and some students over the reported increase in antisemitism on campus. In a recent open letter, he criticized Harvard for not taking action to address this issue and warned that it could jeopardize the university's funding from donors. He also urged the university to publicly identify students who were associated with groups that blamed Israel for the Hamas attack on October 7th.

Interestingly, Ackman has taken a more lenient approach towards fellow billionaire Elon Musk, who recently endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X, prompting a backlash from advertisers. In a recent post on X, Ackman defended Musk and stated that, after reviewing the facts, he believed that Musk did not have any antisemitic intentions when he promoted the conspiracy theory suggesting that Jews were plotting to replace White people with immigrants.

Musk has since apologized for his post, calling it his "worst" and "dumbest" social media post.

The White House weighs in

The White House strongly condemned any calls for genocide on Wednesday, following controversial remarks made by the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and UPenn. "We do not stand for calls for genocide. That is unacceptable and vile. We will call that out," stated White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to CNN's MJ Lee. She also mentioned that administration staff found to have made such calls would be held accountable.

Jean-Pierre refused to explain why university presidents, while testifying on Capitol Hill, were unable to clarify whether antisemitic or pro-genocide statements violated their colleges' codes of conduct. "I cannot speak for those presidents, they have to address this themselves," she said.

Commitment to free speech

During a hearing on Tuesday, Stefanik inquired of Harvard President Claudine Gay whether the prestigious university would take disciplinary action against students or potential students who use phrases such as "from the river to the sea" or "intifada."

Gay described that this kind of "hateful, reckless, offensive speech" is deeply offensive to her. Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, asked if she believed such speech goes against Harvard's code of conduct or if it is permitted.

"We uphold the commitment to free expression, even when it conflicts with Harvard's values," Gay commented. David Weild, former chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market, emphasized the importance of not wavering when students feel threatened.

This report includes contributions from CNN's Danny Freeman, Celina Tebor, and Katie Lobosco.