Bill Ackman says he is 'no longer a Democrat' amid his war against Harvard and DEI

Wall Street billionaire Bill Ackman says he is no longer a Democrat and has begun donating to Republican candidates following his ongoing war against Harvard and the acceptance of antisemitism on college campuses. 

This comes after Ackman, a Jewish Harvard grad and major donor, has been on a righteous crusade to restore American universities from the radical far-left, specifically taking aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, ever since 34 Harvard student organizations signed an open letter supporting Hamas terrorists and blaming Israel for the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

Ackman, 57, the founder and CEO of Perishing Square Capital Management, explained that he is "no longer a Democrat" and now considers himself a "centrist" as he "cares only about the truth."

The comments came in response to Ackman praising conservative author and DEI expert Chris Rufo's book titled, "Americas Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything."

"I'm thrilled that my book might have played a part in inspiring Ackman's righteous crusade to reform the universities. He is not a conservative, but a moderate Democrat, and part of a growing faction of elite defectors who want to smash DEI and restore colorblind equality," Rufo wrote on X.

In response, Ackman asserted that Rufo's book, which exposes the truth behind DEI policies and the destruction of higher institutions at the hands of far-left radical policies, made a lasting impression resulting in him fleeing the political party responsible for it.

"It did. I am no longer a Democrat. I am a centrist. I care only about the truth. I will vote for and support whoever is best for our country regardless of their party affiliation," said Ackman.

"I switched from independent to Democrat so I could vote in a democratic primary in NY and may therefore still be registered as a Democrat. I have made direct and PAC donations to three Republican candidates in this election, @GovChristie, @NikkiHaley
and @VivekGRamaswamy," he continued.

"I recently wrote a check for @deanbphillips," he explained

"I will have more to say on the presidential election in the future," said Ackman.

Furthermore, Ackman, who was one of Harvard University's top donors before announcing that he had ceased all future donations due to the school's acceptance of antisemitism, lauded Rufo's book as a "definite must read."

"It is an excellent and carefully researched book. I found it incredibly elucidating. The first book I have read in years with a pen in hand to enable me to mark the most important passages," Ackman said.

Both Ackman and Rufo were at the forefront of controversial ex-Harvard President Claudine Gay's ousting campaign, which resulted in her resignation last week. They accused Gay, a black woman who held the presidency for only six months, of being a "diversity hire" due to the Ivy League university's diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Gay resigned in disgrace on a series of multiple antisemitism and plagiarism allegations.

During an explosive congressional hearing in November, Gay was among three Ivy League presidents who refused to classify calls for the genocide of Jews as harassment. The hearing resulted in immense backlash and kicked off the ousting campaign. With Harvard University's poor handling of the student organization joint letter, in which they initially refused to condemn it, Gay's presidency was hanging on by a thread.

Investigations were launched into Gay following the congressional hearing which revealed that she had allegedly plagiarized more than 50 academic writings. Chris Rufo and investigative journalist Chris Brunet first made the discoveries.

Ackman, who recently published a 4,000-word essay on why anti-white DEI policies are the cause of division in the United States, claimed that he had knowledge that Gay was a "diversity hire" writing on X, "I learned from someone with first-person knowledge of the Harvard president search that the committee would not consider a candidate who did not meet the DEI office’s criteria."

Ackman said that Harvard University's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, which Gay established, needs to be shut down. Furthermore, he believes that Harvard should appoint "capable business people for the role of president." He has also called on the entire board to resign.

"The Board should not be principally comprised of individuals who share the same politics and views about DEI," Ackman wrote. "The new board members should be chosen in a transparent process with the assistance of the 30-person Board of Overseers."

Claudine Gay had the shortest tenure of any of her predecessors. Despite resigning in disgrace, Gay will get to keep her nearly $900,000 annual salary.