In what appears to be a return to 2017 form, the media have reverted to desperately searching for Resistance figureheads in opposition to President Donald Trump that they may elevate and then desperately cling to. Case in point, ABC’s recent coverage of Harvard University.
Watch as White House correspondent Selina Wang bestows upon Harvard President Alan Garber the distinguished title of “face of the resistance;”
DAVID MUIR: Now, to Harvard tonight. And on this graduation day, the university winning a temporary reprieve in its battle with President Trump. A judge now allowing Harvard to enroll foreign students. The State Department announcing, meanwhile, it will, quote: “aggressively revoke visas of some Chinese students.” Tonight here, why they're doing this. And ABC's Selina Wang from Cambridge, Massachusetts, tonight.
SELINA WANG: Harvard celebrating graduation with a legal victory in its battle with the Trump administration, after a federal judge temporarily blocked the president's ban on international students.
ALAN GARBER: Welcome!
WANG: Today, a standing ovation for the school's president Alan Garber, who has become the face of the resistance.
ALAN GARBER: Members of the Class of 2025, from down the street, across the country, and around the world. Around the world, just as it should be.
There was much Resistance jubilation after an Obama-appointed judge ruled against the Trump administration on the matter of student visas. Irrational exuberance, even.
In many ways, “face of the Resistance” is the political equivalent of “world’s oldest person”: there’s nowhere to go after that but downhill. And the injunction against the Trump administration stripping Harvard’s ability to admit foreign students hasn’t even run its course yet.
But there is an urge to identify successful opposition against Trump. In the absence of political opposition, the media can fall back on institutional opposition. This is how ABC viewers heard an earful about a university president being “the face of the Resistance.
Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Thursday, May 29th, 2025:
DAVID MUIR: Now, to Harvard tonight. And on this graduation day, the university winning a temporary reprieve in its battle with President Trump. A judge now allowing Harvard to enroll foreign students. The State Department announcing, meanwhile, it will, quote: “aggressively revoke visas of some Chinese students.” Tonight here, why they're doing this. And ABC's Selina Wang from Cambridge, Massachusetts, tonight.
SELINA WANG: Harvard celebrating graduation with a legal victory in its battle with the Trump administration, after a federal judge temporarily blocked the president's ban on international students.
ALAN GARBER: Welcome!
WANG: Today, a standing ovation for the school's president Alan Garber, who has become the face of the resistance.
ALAN GARBER: Members of the Class of 2025, from down the street, across the country, and around the world. Around the world, just as it should be.
WANG: The Trump administration accuses Harvard of failing to confront anti-semitic harassment, and claims the school has coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party- allegations Harvard denies. But tonight, a dramatic new escalation that could impact universities across the country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing the U.S. will work to “aggressively revoke visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party, or studying in critical fields.” Former Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, now a Harvard professor, telling us there's already a rigorous vetting process.
NICHOLAS BURNS: Those who are a security risk should not have a visa, but that probably excludes the vast majority of the applicants, and the vast majority of the 277,000 Chinese students in the United States.
WANG: For Harvard students like (UNINT) from China, the last week has been a roller coaster.
CHINESE STUDENT: That definitely sparked a new round of panic mode. It's definitely a lot of devastation, frustration, disappointment, anger, and uncertainty going on campus right now.
WANG: David, as for that warning to Chinese students, it's unclear how many could be targeted, and for Harvard, this legal battle continues to play out in the courts, with billions of dollars in federal funding frozen. A hearing on that is scheduled for July. David?
MUIR: Selina Wang, in Cambridge, Massachusetts tonight. Selina, thank you.
