Von der Leyen: Come to Europe, science is welcome here

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday invited global scientists to make Europe their new home, amid rising pressure on U.S. universities under the Trump administration.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday invited global scientists to make Europe their new home, amid rising pressure on U.S. universities under the Trump administration.

Speaking in Valencia at the 2025 Congress of the European People’s Party, von der Leyen drew a sharp contrast with U.S. policies targeting Harvard and others over pro-Palestinian protests, DEI programs, and climate initiatives.

“Controversial debates are welcome. Freedom of science and research is fundamental,” she said, promising new proposals to help researchers “Choose Europe.”

The offer comes as some post-doctoral researchers, citing safety and uncertainty, are rejecting U.S. positions and turning to Europe or China, according to Harvard’s Donald Ingber.

Von der Leyen also took aim at Washington’s trade policy. She said Trump’s sweeping new tariffs—announced April 2 and partly rolled back after a market crash—had shaken global confidence.

“U.S. tariffs on the rest of the world are at their highest in a century,” she said. “But now, the world is turning to us. Because we are fair, reliable, and play by the rules.”

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