In an age where truth is twisted and common sense is mocked, President Trump has once again stepped forward to set things right. His new Compact for Academic Excellence is not a radical shift, as the left-wing media would have us believe. It is a return to the foundations that once made American higher education the envy of the world—fairness, merit, free speech, and respect for biological truth.
Let us be clear: this compact is not about punishing schools. It does not cut off funding to those who disagree. It merely gives priority to institutions that choose to uphold the values enshrined in our Constitution and affirmed by decades of civil rights law. Schools that sign on will be first in line for federal grants and programs. Others will still be eligible, but they will not receive the same priority or invitations to White House events. That is not coercion. That is leadership.
Yet, the far-left powers in states like California are throwing tantrums. Governor Gavin Newsom has threatened to cut off billions in state funding to any California college that signs the compact. He claims that standing up for free speech, academic freedom, and biological fact is somehow a betrayal of students. His definition of “academic freedom” is one where only one viewpoint is allowed in the classroom—and it’s always the left-wing one.
What President Trump is calling for is not controversial. The compact says universities must not discriminate based on race, sex, or sexual orientation in hiring or admissions. It says schools should rely on merit, not quotas. It asks that all voices be heard—from the left and the right—without fear of being silenced or labeled as hateful. It defends the right to say what is scientifically and historically true: that there are two sexes, and that America is the greatest nation on earth.
This is not Trump’s personal opinion. It is a reaffirmation of principles that once united Americans across party lines. Our civil rights laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, already prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, and religion. The compact simply reminds universities of their duty to follow the law.
And yet, some university faculty are crying foul. They say that when an offer comes with consequences for refusal, it’s not really voluntary. But let us remember—these same universities had no problem accepting federal money tied to diversity mandates, vaccine requirements, and climate change compliance. They welcomed those restrictions because they fit the left’s agenda. Now that the rules support fairness and truth, they call it tyranny.
The left’s hypocrisy runs deep. Newsom accuses Trump of forcing his agenda on schools, while he himself threatens to defund any college that dares to disagree with him. President Trump offers a choice, while Newsom issues ultimatums. The contrast could not be more clear.
President Trump’s compact also addresses something long overdue: the protection of women’s sports and single-sex spaces. Under this plan, Title IX enforcement will follow biology, not ideology. Males will not be allowed to compete in female sports or invade locker rooms meant for women. This is not hate. It is common sense and basic decency.
At its heart, the Compact for Academic Excellence is about restoring sanity. It is about reminding our universities that their job is to pursue truth, not to push politics. It is about creating an environment where students can think freely, speak boldly, and learn courageously.
Let us not be fooled by the panic from the media and the political left. What they fear is not federal overreach. What they fear is the return of order and excellence. They fear a world where students are judged by their achievements, not their identity. They fear a culture where truth matters more than feelings.
But we welcome that world. It is the one our Founders envisioned. It is the one that built the greatest nation on earth. And under President Trump’s leadership, it is the one we are rebuilding today.
America’s future depends on what our children are taught. If we want a nation that remains strong, free, and proud, then we must support efforts like this compact. It is time to bring back truth. It is time to bring back merit. It is time to bring back America.
