Bill Ackman slams Harvard president for refusing to attend screening of Israeli film showing horrors of Hamas terror attack because she has to testify to Congress about anti-Semitism at colleges – even though he offered to FLY her to DC

Billionaire businessman Bill Ackman has criticized the president of Harvard for not attending the Israeli screening of footage of the October 7 Hamas attack, even after offering to fly her to her appearance before Congress the next day.

The hedge fund manager took aim at Claudine Gay for her “failed leadership” and called the decision not to attend an “insult.”

Ackman, 57, offered to fly Gay to Washington, D.C., immediately after the documentary screens at Harvard, where she will testify before Congress about the explosion of anti-Semitism at the university.

But the university leader has declined the invitation, with her chief of staff saying in an email response that she is “out of town.”

“I can't imagine anything more important that the president of Harvard can do right now than witness the atrocities before testifying about the Hamas protests and anti-Semitism on campus,” Ackman wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Bill Ackman attacked Harvard University president after she refused to attend Israel's October 7 showing of Hamas attack footage because she is out of town

Claudine Gay is scheduled to testify in Congress the day after the screening about anti-Semitic incidents at her university

Ackman offered to fly Gay to Washington DC in time for her testimony before Congress, but she declined the invitation

“It may be true that she is 'out of town' as I'm sure she is flying into DC that day, but it certainly sends a bad message to the students, faculty and alumni community about the seriousness with which she is taking it addressing the issue of anti-Semitism on campus.

“And it's an insult to the Israeli ambassador who is flying to Boston alone to present the documentary at Harvard.”

Ackman said he offered to arrange dinner and a flight so the two could discuss the types of questions Gay might face at Congress on Tuesday.

However, gifts such as these from a donor seeking to influence university policy may or may not be prohibited by school rules.

Ackman previously threatened to withdraw his funding from the institution in response to Gay's handling of anti-Semitic incidents on campus, which have skyrocketed in the wake of the Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli bombing of Gaza.

On November 4, he wrote to Gay expressing his concerns and revealing that he had met Jewish students who told him they had been spat on, subjected to anti-Semitic taunts and memes and in one case physically abused, which he said was on video recorded.

The clashes between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel supporters led the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to open an investigation into allegations of anti-Semitism at the school.

“President Gay's failed leadership in managing the impact of October 7 on campus goes a long way toward explaining why anti-Semitism has exploded at Harvard,” Ackman added.

Tuesday's hearing will feature testimony from Gay MIT President Sally Kornbluth and UPenn President Liz Magill about the spike in anti-Semitic incidents on their campuses as pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters clash.

Ackman called Gay's decision not to attend an “insult” and said it sends a “bad message” to her students

'And she also sets a bad example for other universities and institutions. We are unfortunately witnessing a serious failure of leadership at Harvard, one of America's most important institutions, at a critical time in its history.

“Almost a month has passed since I emailed it to her and the entire board. Crickets.'

He compared Gay's leadership to Dartmouth President Sian Beilock, whom he praised for “deftly” handling Israel-Palestine issues on her campus.

Gay has been called to Congress along with the heads of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania to testify about anti-Semitism, as tensions have risen on some campuses in the wake of the terrorist attack.

The hearing will be held by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. In addition to Gay, MIT President Sally Kornbluth and Penn President Liz Magill will testify.

Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the committee, vowed to hold college leaders accountable for anti-Semitism at their colleges.

“College administrators have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow,” Foxx said in a statement.

“College and university presidents have a responsibility to promote and maintain a safe learning environment for their students and staff. Now is no time for indecisiveness or milquetoast statements.”

The statement made no reference to investigating cases of Islamophobia, which have also increased amid the rising tensions.