Harvard University Rejects Proposal for ‘Exil-Campus’ in Germany
In a recent development, Harvard University has declined a proposal by German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer to establish a “refuge campus” in Germany for the elite university, which has been targeted by the Trump administration. According to a university spokesperson, interviewed by the Spiegel, “the opening of a campus outside the United States is not an option for Harvard at this time.”
The proposal was initially made by Weimer in an interview with Bloomberg in late May, where he suggested that Harvard should establish a new campus in Germany, referring to it as an “exil-campus.” Weimer stated that students from Harvard and other US universities would be very welcome in Germany.
In a recent speech, Weimer told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that he had held “very good conversations” with the university’s representatives, who were reportedly “grateful and open” to the idea. However, the Harvard spokesperson did not provide information on whether the university’s leadership had actually engaged in discussions with Weimer.
The rejection of the proposal comes as Harvard University faces intense pressure from the Trump administration, which has been critical of the institution’s autonomy. The university’s leadership, under President Alan Garber, has resisted the administration’s demands for significant changes, leading to a standoff that has resulted in the Trump administration’s decision to exclude international students from visiting the university, a move that has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. The administration has also implemented a travel ban on almost all foreign nationals seeking to study at Harvard, a measure that has also been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Both cases are still ongoing.