The Wall Street Journal on Monday trashed Donald Trump's proposal to create a new taxpayer-funded online university to "compete directly" for college students.
The former president announced what the newspaper called "Trump University 2.0" in a Truth Social video, but which would actually be called the "American Academy," but the Journal's editorial board questioned the need for such an institution and cast doubt on its funding.
"Why does Mr. Trump think a new federally backed online university could provide a better education than alternatives already available, including Hillsdale College or the University of Florida under its new President Ben Sasse?" the board wrote.
"If Mr. Trump’s answer is that his American Academy would be tuition-free, paid for by 'taxing, fining and suing excessively large private university endowments,' then it amounts to a proposal to outcompete conservative colleges using state power."
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Trump promised "no wokeness or jihadism" would be allowed at this online academy, but the editorial board wondered what would happen to the American Academy the next time a Democrat took office, and argued that the federal government should leave education to state and local governments or private schools.
"A federal online university is a bad idea at any time," the board wrote, "but especially when government can’t manage what it’s already doing."
