Who is Christopher Rufo? Anti-plagiariser who made Havard dean resign, and is now going after Kamala Harris

Christopher Rufo is a conservative activist, writer, and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute , a right-leaning think tank in the United States. Over the past several years, Rufo has gained prominence for his work in opposing critical race theory (CRT), diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, as well as other progressive educational and cultural initiatives. His influence has expanded beyond academia, extending into broader public policy debates, making him a key figure within the conservative movement.

Early Career and Rise to Prominence

Rufo began his career as a documentary filmmaker, producing films that focused on poverty, homelessness, and inequality. However, in the mid-2010s, he shifted his focus to conservative activism , concentrating on what he viewed as the ideological corruption of American institutions. Rufo became one of the most vocal opponents of critical race theory and DEI programmes, asserting that these initiatives promote divisive and harmful ideologies that focus too much on race and identity politics.

Rufo is credited with bringing CRT into the national spotlight, particularly after the Trump administration took notice of his work. He appeared on conservative media outlets like Fox News, where he presented CRT as a threat to traditional American values. His efforts contributed to a broader conservative push to ban CRT from public schools, and he became one of the intellectual architects behind these efforts. Several states passed legislation or issued executive orders banning CRT from their curricula, often citing Rufo’s work as a foundation.

Work at the Manhattan Institute and Opposition to DEI

As a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, Rufo has written extensively on the perceived dangers of DEI initiatives , arguing that they are vehicles for left-wing ideologies that undermine meritocracy and individualism. He views these programmes as part of a larger movement to reshape American society along racial and ideological lines, which he believes is detrimental to the nation's unity.

His work on CRT and DEI propelled him into the spotlight of conservative activism, but Rufo has not limited his focus to these topics. In recent years, he has expanded his activism to target what he sees as broader instances of ideological corruption in academia and government.

In 2023 and 2024, Rufo turned his attention to high-profile figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Harvard University President Claudine Gay, alleging that both had engaged in plagiarism .

Kamala Harris Plagiarism Allegations

Rufo accused Vice President Harris of plagiarism in connection with her 2009 book Smart on Crime, which she co-authored during her tenure as district attorney in San Francisco. Rufo claimed that Harris had lifted several passages from publicly available sources, including Wikipedia and news articles, without proper attribution. He highlighted five passages, totalling around 500 words, where he argued that Harris had copied content without citation. Rufo's accusations were based on the findings of Austrian plagiarism researcher Stefan Weber.

The Harris campaign dismissed these allegations as politically motivated, with a spokesperson calling them an attempt by right-wing activists to undermine Harris during the 2024 presidential race. While a review confirmed that some sections of Smart on Crime resembled other sources, these were seen as minor citation errors rather than deliberate plagiarism.

Claudine Gay and Harvard

Rufo also played a pivotal role in the plagiarism controversy that led to the resignation of Harvard University President Claudine Gay. In 2023, Rufo and his collaborators alleged that Gay had plagiarised parts of her academic work. These allegations centred around a broader effort to expose plagiarism among academics, particularly those working in diversity and inclusion fields. Rufo's claims against Gay were part of a concerted campaign to scrutinise the work of high-profile academics and public figures, focusing on those he believed were advancing left-wing ideologies.

Gay’s resignation from Harvard was a significant victory for Rufo and his movement, reinforcing his reputation as a conservative activist with the ability to influence institutional leadership. His work in exposing what he views as academic and intellectual dishonesty has resonated with many on the right, further cementing his influence within conservative circles.

Rufo’s tactics have sparked considerable controversy. Critics accuse him of misrepresenting critical race theory and DEI initiatives, arguing that his portrayal of these concepts is overly simplistic and meant to stoke fear. His opponents also claim that his focus on plagiarism among Black scholars and left-leaning figures is ideologically driven, with some accusing him of targeting individuals based on race.

Despite these criticisms, Rufo remains a key figure within the conservative movement. His efforts to expose what he sees as the ideological corruption of American institutions have earned him a following among those who oppose progressive educational and cultural reforms. His work continues to shape debates over education, public policy,