More than 150 colleges and universities — including Harvard, Princeton, American University, and MIT — are drawing a red line. In a powerful joint statement, they're calling out the Trump administration for what they describe as unprecedented political interference in higher education.

The backlash comes just after Harvard sued the administration for freezing over $3 billion in federal research grants. At the center of the clash are demands to gut diversity policies and audit schools for so-called viewpoint diversity.

Trump's camp says it's cracking down on antisemitism, but universities say this is a thin cover for silencing dissent, cutting international student access, and politicizing science and speech. The warning from the nation's top schools: Undermining free thought in classrooms today could cost democracy tomorrow.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices