UF Revokes Professor’s Emeritus Status After Controversial Anti-Trump Post
Jeffery Harrison./ Image courtesy of @Scottpresler/X
The University of Florida (UF) has rescinded the emeritus status of retired law professor Jeffrey Harrison following a social media post that drew widespread criticism for targeting conservative figures Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump.
Harrison, who retired in 2020 but retained emeritus status, came under fire after posting a message in response to the politically motivated killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10. In the post, which has since circulated widely online, Harrison described Kirk as “an evil person” and went on to say he wished death on President Trump.
“There is a lot of commentary about Charlie Kirk. It’s not that complicated. He was [an] evil person [spouting] all kinds of hateful messages. I did not want him to die. I reserve that wish for Trump,” the post read in part. The message compared Kirk to Nazi personnel, further intensifying backlash.
The post was amplified on social media by conservative activist Scott Presler, who publicly called on the university to cut ties with Harrison.
Meet Jeffrey Harrison.
He’s an emeritus professor at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law.
“I did not want him [Charlie Kirk] to die. I reserve that wish for Trump.”
He should lose any affiliation w/ UF & any current duties.
CC: @GovRonDeSantis @UF pic.twitter.com/QwjHboo15Y
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) September 18, 2025
In a statement released Friday on X (formerly Twitter), the University of Florida responded:
“The University of Florida has been made aware of a retired faculty member who issued a post on social media that is raising concerns. In accordance with the university’s policies and regulations, UF has rescinded this individual’s emeritus status.”
According to The College Fix, UF administrators have not directly addressed the matter with law students. However, the student-run newspaper The Alligator reported that the university’s statement followed Presler’s viral post urging Harrison’s removal.
The University of Florida has been made aware of a retired faculty member who issued a post on social media that is raising concerns. In accordance with the university’s policies and regulations, UF has rescinded this individual’s emeritus status.
— FLORIDA (@UF) September 19, 2025
In a follow-up Facebook post, Harrison acknowledged receiving “a lot of hateful commentary” after his original remarks were widely shared online.
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