The Pentagon announced Friday it was severing ties with Harvard University, ending all military training, fellowships, and certificate programs with the Ivy League institution, while former President Donald Trump faced widespread condemnation for sharing a racist video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The video, which was deleted from Trump's Truth Social account, included an AI-generated clip and promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. These events occurred as Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos addressed the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger and the former president's potential involvement.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Harvard "no longer meets the needs" of the Pentagon, according to NPR News. The announcement marked the latest development in the Trump administration's prolonged standoff with Harvard over the White House's demands for reforms at the school, as reported by NPR News.
Trump's video, which was shared late Thursday night, featured the Obamas' faces superimposed on the bodies of apes in a jungle setting, set to the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," as reported by Time. The depiction of the Obamas as apes is in line with a centuries-old racist trope, according to Time. The post was deleted from Trump's account on Friday amid the outcry, Vox reported. The incident has caused the former president's racism to make his party "antsy," according to Vox.
Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos addressed the proposed Netflix-Warner Bros. merger and President Trump's possible role in the deal. When asked by Variety if he was nervous about the former president's interest in the deal, Sarandos responded, "Look, I think he has a keen interest in the entertainment business. He knows about the entertainment business, and he really does care about the health of the industry, the American industry generally, but I think particularly the entertainment industry."
In other news, the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on February 1 has captured the public's attention, according to Vox. The situation has created a heavy feeling over the Today show, with co-anchor Savannah Guthrie noticeably absent while dealing with an unspecified issue, Vox reported.
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