Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) criticized former Harvard University President Claudine Gay in comments Thursday, slamming “racist” and “Marxist” rhetoric in education.
“The current narrative is that black people can't compete intellectually,” Owens criticized in an interview with anchor Blake Berman of “The Hill on NewsNation.”
Owens went on to say that black people “can do anything anyone else can do, given the opportunity.” He also criticized the idea of ”oppressed” people and “oppressors”.
“It’s racist and it’s Marxist,” Owens continued.
He also called Gay, the former president of Harvard University, a “fraud,” appearing to allude to the plagiarism charges he faced.
“She got to where she is by cheating,” Owens said.
In a New York Times op-ed on Wednesday, Gay said his resignation was “painful but necessary” and that he and Harvard were “under attack.”
“My character and intelligence have been called into question. My commitment to combating anti-Semitism has been called into question,” she wrote. “My inbox received a ton of name-calling, including death threats. I've been called the N-word more times than I care to count.”
“My hope is that by stepping down, demagogues will have an opportunity to further weaponize my provost in a campaign to undermine the ideals that have animated Harvard since its founding: excellence, openness, independence, and truth.” “to refuse,” she added.
“The Hill on NewsNation” airs Monday through Friday at 5 p.m.
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