Former President Barack Obama reportedly lobbied to prevent Harvard President Claudine Gay from being forced to resign following her early December testimony before Congress on campus antisemitism.
Obama lobbied on behalf of his alma mater’s president when her answers during testimony led to increased calls for her resignation, according to a new report.
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According to Jewish Insider, a source familiar with the situation alleged the former president lobbied to keep Gay safe from removal.
“It sounded like people were being asked to close ranks to keep the broader administration stable — including its composition,” the source said.
A representative for Obama did not provide comment to the Washington Examiner.
When several presidents of prestigious and Ivy League universities were called to testify before Congress, Gay did not calm the concerns of donors and alumni with her answers before the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
When Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) asked Gay if “calling for the genocide of Jews” violated the school’s “rules on bullying and harassment,” she responded, “It can be, depending on the context.”
Her testimony was viewed as insufficient by many, leading to a further energized group of lawmakers looking to take on the school and numerous donors threatening to cancel their contributions.
The backlash was so significant that Gay was forced to address it in the form of an interview with the Harvard Crimson. “I am sorry,” she told the outlet. “Words matter.”
“When words amplify distress and pain, I don’t know how you could feel anything but regret,” she said.
At the same time, per the report, Obama was working behind the scenes to ensure that Gay would keep her position.
Despite widespread concern and outrage over Gay’s testimony and the culture at the university, the Harvard Corporation reiterated its confidence in the leader shortly after the hearing.
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“Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing,” the corporation said in a statement.
The vote of confidence in Gay came following a petition backing the president, which received signatures from more than 700 Harvard faculty members.
