"Return the Degree" US University Revokes Honorary Degree Awarded to Trump

Supporters of President Donald Trump are holding a protest while carrying flags depicting Trump dressed as the popular movie character 'Rambo'.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Na] The honorary degree awarded to former U.S. President Donald Trump has been revoked.

The board of trustees at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, announced on the 8th (local time) that they voted to withdraw the honorary degree awarded to President Trump in 1988, according to the political news outlet The Hill.

The reason for the degree revocation is due to President Trump's role in effectively inciting the "U.S. Capitol riot" on January 6. At the time, President Trump defended his supporters on Twitter and directly attended rallies urging them to prevent Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote. During the violent protests, four rioters and one Capitol police officer died.

John Simon, president of Lehigh University, issued a statement condemning the violence at the Capitol, calling it "a violent attack on the foundation of democracy, which is the unwavering respect for the will of the people expressed in free elections and the peaceful transfer of power."

He added, "I sincerely hope that the lawlessness that occurred in our nation's Capitol will turn the page on the sorrow and anger that motivated efforts to make the country more just."

Meanwhile, according to The Hill, there has been criticism from netizens that the school only revoked the degree shortly before President Trump's departure from office.

When President Trump first entered politics, Lehigh alumni, staff, and students demanded that the university revoke his degree. According to the university newspaper, numerous petitions were submitted after Trump won the 2016 presidential election, including one in 2017 signed by more than 30,000 people.

However, at that time, the university board of trustees took no action, citing that "universities encourage respectful dialogue, discussion, and learning on important social issues."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.