The Associated Press (AP) finds itself at the center of accusations and mockery, with critics within the U.S. and globally asserting that the news agency, often considered a liberal-leaning outlet, is guilty of projection in its coverage of the resignation of serial “plagiarist” Harvard President Claudine Gay.
The controversy has ignited claims that the AP, purportedly a neutral news source, is, in fact, acting as a propaganda arm of the Democratic Party.
The AP’s initial headline, “Harvard president’s resignation highlights new conservative weapon against colleges: plagiarism,” has sparked intense scrutiny.
American and global critics argue that the news agency is, in reality, weaponizing Gay’s departure against American conservatives while paradoxically blaming them for using “resignation” as a “new conservative weapon against colleges.”
Critics contend that the news outlet is engaging in projection by pointing fingers at conservatives while manipulating the narrative to fit a liberal agenda.
Criticism was not limited to the headline; Gay faced widespread condemnation for her response to a question about calls for the genocide of Jews during a congressional hearing.
Initially stating that it depended on the “context,” Gay later issued an apology.
The AP’s handling of the matter drew sharp criticism on social media, particularly on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Community Notes on X highlighted broader concerns about Gay’s alleged antisemitic policy stances and extensive plagiarism.
“The Harvard president resigned after a probe into her antisemitic policy stances and extensive plagiarism,” the Community Notes read.
Critics argued that the AP, along with other liberal outlets, appeared troubled by the messengers rather than addressing the core issues surrounding Gay’s departure.
The AP’s post garnered significant attention, amassing over 10,000 comments and 5,300 reposts as of the latest update.
Notable personalities weighed in on the controversy, with some expressing concern about the AP’s potential role in shaping public opinion.
Elon Musk, for instance, emphasized the need for an unbiased examination of the facts, stating, “And, once again, @CommunityNotes for the win. Gay repeatedly violated Harvard’s rules against plagiarism. Source: Harvard.”
The accusations against the AP gained momentum as social media users drew parallels to past instances where media outlets were accused of bias.
Media entrepreneur Tim Pool remarked, “It’s like a @TheBabylonBee headline,” highlighting the surreal nature of the situation.
Amid the allegations of plagiarism against Gay, the AP faced criticism for downplaying the severity of the issue and instead focusing on a narrative that implicates conservatives.
Even outside the conservative sphere, global netizens expressed dismay over Harvard’s alleged inaction against Gay’s repeated plagiarism, contrasting it with punitive measures taken against students for similar offenses. Gay faced accusations of being a “Diversity” or “DEI hire.”
The irony was not lost on social media users, as some drew parallels between the AP’s stance and accusations faced by Melania Trump years ago.
A verified X user, Noah Griffith, commented, “FLASHBACK: 7 years ago members of the media began attacking Melania Trump for ‘plagiarism’. Just yesterday the Associated Press called plagiarism the ‘new conservative weapon against colleges.'”
The Daily Netizen 