Progressive Democrat Anna Eskamani, who is running for Orlando Mayor in 2027, attacked Republican President Donald Trump in a hyper-partisan way over…Harvard.
State Representative Eskamani did not focus on any local issues or matters before the state legislature during her political attack on the Republican President.
Anna Eskamani said the Republican President’s actions were “part of a large and transparent effort to intimidate institutions of higher learning into submission and undermine academic freedom.” The Central Florida Democrat added: “Universities like Harvard are cornerstones of our democracy.”
The Democratic candidate running for Orlando Mayor also said President Donald Trump had a “track record of authoritarianism.”
It raises an interesting issue very early in the Democrat’s three-year campaign for Orlando Mayor – do local voters want a hyper-partisan, far-left Mayor running the city administration? And could Anna Eskamani’s attacks on Republicans like Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis get her removed from office (Republicans have already removed other Democrats), or have her initiatives blocked in the state legislature?
It’s a risk for Orlando voters, and the tourism industry which does not benefit from political issues clouding the Central Florida appeal. It is also very different than the political approach of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, also a Democrat, for the last few decades. It also could make it awkward when the City of Orlando will need to ask for money.
Orlando Congressman Maxwell Frost, an ally of Eskamani, also recently attacked President Donald Trump by calling him a dictator, and he has also routinely attacked Governor Ron DeSantis. This kind of politics may pay off for these politicians but the potential impact and political ramifications to Orlando is yet to be seen.
The full statement posted by State Rep. Anna Eskamani was:
“It’s appalling to see President Trump attacking Harvard simply because they had the courage to stand up to him. This isn’t just a petty grievance—it’s part of a large and transparent effort to intimidate institutions of higher learning into submission and undermine academic freedom. Universities like Harvard are cornerstones of our democracy. They drive innovation, fuel scientific breakthroughs, prepare the workforce of tomorrow, and create space for honest debate. We should be celebrating these contributions, not threatening them. Academic freedom is essential to a free society, and no politician— especially one with a track record of authoritarianism —should be allowed to erode that. Even if college was/is not a part of your life, what we are seeing happen right now in higher education impacts us all.”
