Jason Stanley, professor of Philosophy at Yale University and a renowned expert on fascism, has decided to leave the United States. His decision, he says, stems from what he describes as the consolidation of a "fascist regime" under President Donald Trump. Stanley’s departure is far from quiet: he has been publicly denouncing the atmosphere of fear that, in his view, has taken hold in American universities and other academic institutions.

In an interview with Amanpour and Company, broadcast on YouTube on March 26, 2025, Stanley warned that "authoritarianism requires a culture of fear," and that, in his view, the United States is already heading down that path. "They're creating a culture of fear in K-12 and universities," he stated, pointing to new Department of Education guidelines aimed at imposing a state-driven patriotic ideology, while censoring teachings that acknowledge systemic racism in the country.

Stanley's concerns are not limited to academia. Speaking to BBC Mundo, he explained that his decision to move to Canada is also motivated by personal reasons. "The main reason is the political climate, both for my profession as an academic and for my children, who are Black and Jewish," he said. He added that he is deeply alarmed by how American Jews are being placed at the center of political debate and used, in his words, by the Trump administration as "a kind of sledgehammer for fascism."

An unsettling shift in education policy

Stanley’s remarks come amid growing government pressure on U.S. universities. The controversy escalated recently after the release of a letter from the Department of Education, dated February 14, 2025, which accused educational institutions of "toxically indoctrinating" students with claims that the U.S. is built on systemic racism, under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

For Stanley, this letter is a clear signal of the government’s intent to push forward with a model of patriotic education and ideological control. "When you begin by saying that universities and schools are not allowed to teach facts, you’re already on a very problematic playing field," he said in his Amanpour and Company interview. According to Stanley, the vagueness of the new rules allows for any professor to be targeted under their scope, fostering self-censorship and fear across the academic community.

He recalled that conservative activists like Christopher Rufo have openly advocated for the use of vague terms such as DEI to give wide latitude in attacking critical thinking in universities. "That is precisely what they are doing," Stanley emphasized.

Columbia University: a turning point

One of the key moments that led Stanley to consider leaving the U.S. was the controversy surrounding Columbia University. The Trump administration cut approximately $400 million in federal funding to the institution, claiming it had failed to protect its Jewish students during protests over the war in Gaza. Columbia eventually agreed to a series of government demands to regain the funds.

Stanley described this move as "the worst attack on freedom of expression in my lifetime, worse than McCarthyism," as he told the BBC. "They intervened in an academic department because the federal government disagreed with its ideology," he added, stressing that Columbia’s decision set an alarming precedent for academic independence.

For Stanley, the resignation of Columbia’s then-president, Katrina Armstrong, after accepting the government’s demands, did not change the situation. "They appointed a board member as interim president. It’s even more troubling," he told the BBC. In his view, the decision shows the White House is closely monitoring university actions and exerting direct pressure on their leaders.

Stanley also criticized the administration’s narrative around university protests, accusing it of distorting the facts. In Amanpour and Company, he pointed out that many Jewish students critical of Israeli policy were part of the Columbia protests but were erased from the official narrative. "The administration is saying there are good Jews and bad Jews. The good ones are those who support Israel’s actions in Gaza, and the bad ones are those, like me, who criticize those actions," he said.

A warning about the country’s direction

Stanley's concerns extend far beyond academia. In both his interviews with Amanpour and Company and the BBC, he painted a bleak picture of the state of American democracy. "I think we already are a fascist regime," he declared in his conversation with the BBC. According to him, the rule of law has deteriorated to the point where President Trump and figures like Elon Musk act with impunity while institutions fail to restrain them.

Stanley stressed that the attacks go beyond universities, extending to the media and the judiciary. "The president and Elon Musk are doing whatever they want. The courts are a disaster," he lamented in the BBC interview, warning that the U.S. is edging toward a one-party system.

When asked about the public’s response to these trends, Stanley acknowledged that a significant portion of the population sympathizes with authoritarianism. "In every country, 30% of the people want fascism," he said, referring to historical dynamics where demagogues exploit internal and external fears to seize power.

A strategic exile

Although he makes it clear that he considers the United States his home, Stanley sees his move to Canada as an opportunity to continue the fight from a place that, in his view, still upholds democratic values. "The political climate for universities and for freedom looks grim in this country," he said on Amanpour and Company. He added, "I can best fight it in a country that is dedicated to freedom and equality."

With two young children who, as he pointed out, are both Black and Jewish, Stanley feels compelled to seek a safer environment for his family. He does not rule out returning to the U.S. if the situation improves, but for now, his outlook leaves little room for optimism. "The United States will always be my home," he told the BBC, "but I think the institutions I love are existentially threatened, and they are not defending themselves in a way that gives me any hope."