US Congressman Ro Khanna criticized the Trump administration’s decision to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students. He challenged prominent tech figures such as Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, David Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya, Vinod Khosla, and Reid Hoffman to speak out against the ban, stating that it cannot be justified on merit.
Khanna shared his thoughts on X, calling out Silicon Valley leaders to defend international students at Harvard. He emphasized that there is no tech leader who can support the ban based on its merits.
Anyone from Silicon Valley willing to speak out against the Trump @JDVance ban on current and future international students at Harvard? I know @elonmusk @DavidSacks @pmarca @chamath @vkhosla @reidhoffman that there is not a single tech leader who can defend this on the merits.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) May 23, 2025
Harvard University condemned the Trump administration’s decision, calling it unlawful and unwarranted. The university expressed concerns about the impact on thousands of students and scholars affected by the ban.
Harvard filed a legal complaint and announced plans to seek a temporary restraining order to address the situation.
The Office of the President of Harvard University released a statement denouncing the government’s actions. It mentioned the revocation of Harvard’s certification and the impact on international students and scholars.
Harvard reassured its international community of its commitment to academic freedom and promised support to those affected by the ban.
The university criticized the government’s decision, stating that it endangers the future of students and scholars. Harvard vowed to pursue legal remedies and provide updates on the situation.
The White House defended its stance, calling foreign student enrollment a privilege. It accused Harvard of fostering anti-American sentiments and supporting terrorist activities.
In response, Harvard and the Trump administration have been in conflict over issues related to campus programming, hiring practices, and allegations of antisemitism and racism.
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