A clip from a podcast episode is making waves online. In it, a California professor claims that President Trump wants to re-segregate American schools. The word “segregation” is a heavy one. It brings to mind a dark chapter in our country’s past, when children were separated in schools by the color of their skin. So, is this claim true? Is the Trump administration really trying to bring back segregation? We decided to take a closer look.
The claim started with Caroline Luce, a professor of social sciences at UCLA, during a podcast titled “ICE AND HIGHER ED: DEFENDING OUR COMMUNITIES.” The episode aired on November 6, 2025, and was hosted by NYU professor Chenjerai Kumanyika. During the discussion, Luce said that President Trump is using efforts to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs as a way to “re-segregate” American universities.
That’s a big accusation, but what does it really mean?
Let’s start with what DEI programs are. These programs are meant to promote diversity in schools and make sure students of all backgrounds feel welcome and supported. Supporters of DEI say the programs help create equal opportunities for everyone, especially for minorities. Critics, like those in the Trump administration, say DEI programs often go too far and end up dividing people by race or gender instead of uniting them.
According to Luce, the Trump administration has demanded that UCLA pay a $1 billion settlement related to accusations of antisemitism and set up a $172 million fund for Title VII violations, which relate to discrimination in the workplace. She also claims that the White House is holding back $584 million in federal grants until UCLA agrees to these terms.
Luce made it clear she doesn’t agree with the administration’s actions. She even used the phrase “orange man” to refer to President Trump, which shows her personal feelings. She said that if UCLA gives in to these demands, it will damage the “sanctity” of higher education in America.
But are these actions really about segregation?
Here’s what we found. The Trump administration has been very clear about its views on DEI programs. A White House spokesperson responded to the criticisms by saying the administration is focused on restoring academic excellence through merit. That means they want students and staff to be judged based on their skills and achievements, not their race, gender, or background.
It’s also important to note that calling this action “re-segregation” is more of an opinion than a fact. Nobody in the Trump administration has proposed any laws or rules that would separate students by race. There is no plan to bring back segregation like we saw in the 1950s and 60s. Instead, the administration is focused on removing programs they believe are unfair or discriminatory in another way.
So why did Luce use such a strong word?
It seems she believes that removing DEI programs will lead to less diversity and fewer protections for minority students, which she sees as a step backward. But again, this is her interpretation. It’s not based on any official plan to separate students by race.
The podcast also included Aaron Krall, an English lecturer at the University of Illinois Chicago, who spoke about efforts to fight ICE operations in Chicago. While that part of the episode isn’t directly related to the claims about school segregation, it shows the political tone of the conversation.
In the end, here’s what we know: President Trump’s administration is cracking down on DEI programs and pushing for schools to focus more on merit. Some professors, like Luce, strongly disagree and believe this will hurt diversity and fairness in education. But calling it “re-segregation” is misleading. There is no evidence that the administration is trying to bring back racial separation in schools.
This is a heated debate, and it’s not likely to cool down anytime soon. But when words like “segregation” are used, it’s important to stop, look at the facts, and ask: is this really what’s happening, or is someone just trying to stir the pot?