Biden and Trump Clash Over Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling

Presidents Biden and Trump React to Supreme Court Ruling on Affirmative Action

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump had very different reactions to the Supreme Court’s decision to end race-based admissions at U.S. colleges and universities.

Biden called the decision “a step backwards” and said it would “make it harder for students of color to get the education they deserve.” He vowed to continue to fight for affirmative action, saying it is “essential to creating a more just and equitable society.”

Trump, on the other hand, praised the decision, saying it was “a victory for merit-based admissions.” He said the ruling would “ensure that the best and brightest students have the opportunity to attend the best schools, regardless of their race.”

The Supreme Court’s decision is a major victory for conservatives who have long argued that affirmative action is a form of reverse discrimination. The decision is also likely to have a significant impact on college admissions at selective schools, where affirmative action has been used to increase the number of minority students.

Background on Affirmative Action

Affirmative action is a policy that aims to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups. It has been used in a variety of contexts, including college admissions, employment, and government contracting.

Affirmative action policies were first implemented in the United States in the 1960s, in response to the civil rights movement. The policies were designed to address the legacy of discrimination that had prevented people of color from accessing opportunities in education, employment, and other areas.

Affirmative action has been controversial since its inception. Critics argue that it is unfair to give preferential treatment to people based on their race or ethnicity. Supporters argue that affirmative action is necessary to level the playing field and ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

The Supreme Court’s Decision

The Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University was a 6-3 ruling. The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, held that race can no longer be a “primary factor” in college admissions.

The Court’s decision was based on the view that affirmative action policies must be narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government interest. The Court found that Harvard’s affirmative action policy did not meet this standard, as it was not narrowly tailored to achieve the goal of increasing diversity.

The Impact of the Decision

The Supreme Court’s decision is likely to have a significant impact on college admissions at selective schools. It is now much more difficult for colleges to use race as a factor in admissions decisions.

The decision is also likely to lead to increased scrutiny of legacy admissions practices at selective schools. Legacy admissions are those in which applicants are given preference because they have a family member who attended the same school.

The Supreme Court’s decision is a major victory for conservatives who have long argued against affirmative action. However, it is also a setback for those who believe that affirmative action is necessary to address the legacy of discrimination.

The decision is likely to be the subject of much debate and discussion in the coming months and years.