Prestige Ain’t Principle: A Porch Talk on the Trump Harvard Deal
By Liberty Lane, with Colonel Ezra Stone (Ret.)
Let me tell y’all something that’s been sitting heavy on my chest.
I read the news this week that Harvard University—yes, that Harvard—has entered into a formal research partnership with former Trump officials to “study business leadership.”
Here’s the article from the New York Times.
Now, I don’t throw the word “betrayal” concerning a Harvard deal around lightly. But when one of the most powerful academic institutions in the world starts laundering the legacy of an administration that trafficked in fraud, fear, and authoritarianism—all in the name of “scholarship”—I think we need to call it what it is:
A credibility crisis.
“It’s Just a Research Deal,” They Say.
That’s what the headlines want us to believe. That this is business as usual. That elite schools like Harvard can walk the tightrope between truth and politics, and somehow keep their balance.
But y’all—this ain’t balance. It’s compromise.
And when institutions like Harvard legitimize bad actors under the banner of neutral inquiry, they don’t just blur the line between fact and fiction.
They erase it.
I Asked Ezra to Join Me On the Porch
Because this moment ain’t just about politics. It’s about trust. And few folks understand that better than my uncle-in-heart, Colonel Ezra Stone—retired military, constitutional scholar, and one of the sharpest moral minds I know.
Here’s what he said when I asked if Harvard had lost its way:
Ezra: “It’s not just Harvard. It’s every institution that’s forgotten its oath. Truth is no longer sacred—it’s strategic. And once that happens, what you’re building ain’t knowledge. It’s narrative.”
“This ain’t a debate about ideas. It’s a test of whether our country still has a moral compass—or if we’ve handed it to the highest bidder.”
What’s Really at Stake Here?
Let’s spell it out.
This “leadership research” is being spearheaded by folks who:
Helped dismantle ethical norms around governance.
Fueled the January 6th disinformation machine.
Built business empires on lies, grift, and evasion.
And now? They’re getting Ivy League credentials slapped on their legacy. Not because they earned it—but because powerful people want to rehabilitate their image.
This is reputation laundering. Period.
And it ain’t harmless. Because when places like Harvard do it, it tells the public:
“This is fine. These are still leaders. Maybe you got it wrong.”
What Do We Tell the Next Generation?
That leadership is about money, not morality?
That if you’re rich enough or famous enough, someone will always offer you a clean slate?
Because I’ve got nieces, nephews, and students who still believe that truth matters. That character counts. That the point of education is to grow your integrity, not your influence.
And today, I had to look them in the eye and say:
“I don’t know if a Harvard deal still stands for that.”
What Do We Do About It?
This is the part that matters most. Because naming the problem ain’t enough.
So here’s how we manage this crisis—and maybe start fixing the bigger one it exposes:
1. Call for Transparency
Harvard owes the public a full accounting of:
Who authorized this deal?
What influence donors or political actors had in shaping it?
What safeguards exist to prevent academic whitewashing?
ACTION: Contact Harvard’s Office of Public Affairs and demand full transparency about the Trump-affiliated research initiative.
2. Support Academic Independence
Reach out to your alma mater—whether it’s a community college or a big university—and ask:
“What are we doing to protect truth in research?”
If the answer sounds vague, push harder. Because silence is not neutrality—it’s complicity.
3. Reclaim the Meaning of Leadership
Let’s uplift models of principled leadership:
Teachers who tell hard truths
Journalists who expose corruption
Organizers who fight for equity without fame
Remind folks that real leadership starts on the ground, not in a gilded office.
Final Word from Ezra:
“We fought wars to protect freedom. But the war we’re in now? It’s for the soul of what freedom means. If our institutions no longer care to defend it, then maybe it’s time the people did.”
Y’all know where to find me. On the porch. With coffee and conviction.
But this time, I hope you’ll sit with us—and speak up.
—Liberty
CALL TO ACTION:
Share this blog. Tag a student. Email your university.
And if you’re tired of watching power rewrite history, say so. Out loud.