Trump has threatened to withhold billions in federal funding from elite universities

Christopher Rufo is a conservative activist widely regarded as the architect of Trump ’s anti-DEI campaign in higher education.

He says he wants universities across the country to feel “existential terror” and to “put the university sector as a whole into a significant recession” The Trump administration is threatening many more schools with funding cuts, eliminated programs and interference in their operations.

Liberal conservative journalist Cathy Young has criticised Florida governor DeSantis ' plan to take control of the college.

Andrew Hammond: Rufo isn’t seeking to protect or restore free speech, but to impose controls of his own liking.

Hammond: What’s needed now is an ideological blitzkriegrieg state backed by raw state backed up by raw power.

He sees nothing but ideas but ideas being bludgeoned into submission, Hammond writes.

Julian Zelizer : Trying to “entrench’ one’s own values through intimidation and coercion is a sure way to push it in unexpected directions.

Zelizer says the loudest anti-woke voices on the Right deserve all the credit for rolling wokeness back and the liberal centre played no meaningful role.

Trump likes to claim that he received an “unprecedented” mandate in the 2024 election.

But he may want to recall that culture is a tricky and unpredictable thing.