Harvard president to stay after antisemitism row

Claudine Gay will remain the 30th president of Harvard University, as the top governing board of the oldest college in the United States has given her its full support after days of backlash and calls for her removal over recent testimony at a congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses.

"In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay," Harvard's board said in a statement on Tuesday.

But the statement also faulted Gay's initial response to the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7, which many critics said was halfhearted and inadequate.