Unearthed footage exposes medical school administrators pledging to resist Trump executive orders
The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is making headlines after a leaked video obtained by Fox News Digital revealed school administrators openly rejecting multiple executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump. In the video, Dr. Jerry Kruse, the Dean, Provost, and CEO of SIU School of Medicine, can be seen discussing the school’s plans to resist and fight back against these orders.
Kruse referred to Trump’s executive order on gender ideology as an “attack on women” and “basic human rights.” He emphasized that the school would not comply with these orders, stating, “We will resist obeying in advance. We won’t do any anticipatory obedience.” Kruse also expressed concerns that these orders and actions were direct attacks on important values such as science, higher education, and healthcare.
During the presentation, Dr. Wendi El-Amin, the Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, highlighted the importance of the school’s work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), describing it as a “life or death issue for some people.” The school has been actively promoting DEI initiatives, aiming to reflect the demographics of central and southern Illinois while addressing health disparities through culturally responsive care.
The school’s commitment to DEI was reaffirmed by the SIU Board of Trustees earlier this year, with the school’s VP of anti-racism and DEI, Sheila Caldwell, noting measurable improvements in retention rates for minority students. Despite the resistance to Trump’s executive orders, Dr. Donald Torry, the Associate Dean for Research, assured that the school’s grant funding from NIH and HHS remained unaffected.
Regarding immigration executive orders, Dr. Vidhya Prakash, the Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Population Health, stated that the school had instructed faculty members not to comply with ICE and to call security in case of any issues. The school emphasized the importance of protecting its patients who were living in fear of being apprehended.
Despite the school’s defiance of the executive orders, Lauren Crocks, the university’s director of marketing, communications, and engagement, reiterated the school’s commitment to following the law. However, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman at Do No Harm, criticized the school for prioritizing identity politics over patients and urged them to stop defying executive orders.
In response to the school’s actions, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller praised Trump’s efforts to dismantle DEI programs, emphasizing the importance of merit-based hiring practices. Miller highlighted the economic benefits of recruiting based on merit, stating that it promotes innovation, growth, investment, and job creation.
The leaked video has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the school’s defiance of executive orders. As the school continues to prioritize DEI initiatives, it remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to their actions.
