In his first public comments since assuming the role of Ohio State's president, Ted Carter demonstrated his backing for football coach Ryan Day and denounced antisemitism. Carter, who began his tenure on January 1st, held his first interactions with students on Monday and addressed the media for the first time.

When asked about the calls for Day's dismissal, Carter initially referred to the intense Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. While Day has faced criticism for his 1-3 record against the Wolverines, Carter emphasized his respect for major college football rivalries. He explained that as a former head of the Naval Academy, he recognizes the significance of rivalries like the Army-Navy game, second only to the Ohio State-Michigan clash.

Carter voiced his support for Day, stating that the coach remains an integral part of the university's plans for the team's future. Acknowledging the team's goal of winning the Big Ten and a national championship each year, Carter commended Day's leadership and expressed pride in having him as the coach.

During his five-year tenure coaching the Buckeyes, Day secured two Big Ten titles and led the team to the national championship game, where they were defeated by Alabama in 2021.

When prompted about whether Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh should face termination over a scouting scandal, Carter refrained from offering an opinion, smiling as he declined to comment.

Shifting the discussion to the issue of antisemitism on campus, Carter adopted a serious tone. He condemned the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on October 7th, emphasizing that Ohio State University has consistently spoken out against such acts.

While defending the importance of protecting the First Amendment and promoting free speech on campus, Carter stressed that there are boundaries to be upheld. The university will not tolerate hate speech, antisemitism, Islamophobia, bigotry, harassment, or incitement to violence. Carter affirmed the university's commitment to maintaining a strong moral stance.

Highlighting recent controversies involving former university presidents, Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania and Claudine Gay of Harvard, Carter expressed doubt that he would have responded similarly during their congressional hearings. He emphasized the need for a moral backbone in addressing issues and condemned any call for genocide, stating that the country's responsibility lies in supporting the vulnerable.

Carter assumes the position of president from Dr. Kristina Johnson, who served from 2020 until her resignation in May 2023.