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The left has long dominated higher education, often using it as a tool to indoctrinate students with a radical agenda, one that bears little resemblance to anything moderate or balanced.
For too long, conservatives in academia have been pushed to the sidelines, their voices silenced, and their presence reduced to a scattered few.
While liberalism still dominates higher education, the strides made by President Donald Trump during his two terms in office are notable. Trump has decided not to give in to the status quo, directly pushing back against liberalism in academia and pointing out the unfairness of the intentional indoctrination.
Known as a staunch ally to Israel and the Jewish people, Trump immediately addressed the antisemitism plaguing college campuses and has withdrawn federal funds from universities deemed guilty of allowing antisemitism on campus. Institutes such as Harvard and Columbia have been put on notice, setting an example that hate will not prevail in the land of the free. More than $400 million in federal contracts were canceled at Columbia alone, with billions more frozen or threatened at elite universities failing to confront antisemitism.
Trump, who honors the flag, the military, and undeniably embraces patriotism, has declared U.S. history should not be erased, and the nation should never be vilified.
The Trump administration’s changes to DEI immediately impacted academia, as hiring practices underwent significant changes overnight, seeking to restore fairness to employment standards. DEI-related funding was redirected from several federal grant programs to STEM, civics, and classical education initiatives. Also, correlated to this is the intention to investigate universities that have funded and participated in hate, and omit such employers from the PSLF program.
Trump’s 2025 executive order mandated that accrediting bodies assess universities for academic quality and freedom from ideological pressure. This included pausing reviews of certain agencies until they aligned with new federal standards.
While Trump undoubtedly knows conservatives will not win academia, sanity appears to be returning. Younger conservatives have gained support from a president who has encouraged them to push back against radical indoctrination.
Known as a new model to emulate, the New College of Florida, largely shaped by Governor Ron DeSantis, could be the example to follow in the years to come. Encouraging education by classical studies, and rigorous debate is a format that can work and make education more balanced.
Additionally, the Trump administration supported universities offering patriotic curricula and civics instruction through grant incentives, and praised institutions like Hillsdale College for resisting ideological pressure.
It is impossible to rid higher education of any political biases, as they inevitably occur. Nevertheless, conservatism deserves an equal place in academia, and the classical system of education could be the balance lacking across the nation.
Historically, the university has been a place of great learning, debate, and intellectual discourse. It was traditionally possible to disagree in a professional manner without fear of attacks from fellow classmates or professors. Trump’s policies are a reminder that education should be about critical thinking, not ideological conformity or forced indoctrination.
If education is to remain credible, it must return to a focus on fairness and intellectual debate. President Trump’s efforts in restoring balance to academia deserve recognition and continued support. The lasting impacts could be notable.
