Texas A&M president resigns in wake of controversy over viral video on gender ideology recorded in class
Chancellor Glenn Hegar maintained that the board agreed that a change was necessary: "President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication. ... We are grateful for his service and contributions."
Mark Welsh
Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh resigned Thursday. The information came in a statement from Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the university system's Board of Regents. Welsh's resignation will take effect Friday.
The decision came just after facing criticism for a classroom video that showed a student criticizing a children's literature lesson on gender. The statement made no reference to the video, but Welsh's resignation came after the recordings generated widespread controversy on campus and attracted the attention of several Republican lawmakers, including Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
"His ambivalence on the issue and his dismissal of the student’s concerns by immediately taking the side of the professor is unacceptable. This is not the first instance of a lack of confidence in President Welsh’s leadership," Patrick wrote on his social media.
"Most parents, students, and Aggie alumni expect Texas A&M to reflect the values of our state and our nation as well as A&M’s rich history. If President Welsh will not or cannot reflect those values, then change needs to happen," added the state's lieutenant governor.
">As more information is made known, it is clear that @TAMU President Mark Welsh did not handle the recent situation concerning a student and a professor who was fired yesterday as he should have. His ambivalence on the issue and his dismissal of the student’s concerns by…
— Office of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) September 11, 2025
"You have the right to leave"
In the recordings, the student commented to the professor that the subject matter of the class, apparently related to DEI issues, contradicted his personal convictions.
"This also very much goes against not only myself but a lot of people’s religious beliefs. I am not going to participate in this because it’s not, it’s not legal, and I don’t want to promote something that is against our president’s laws as well as against my religious beliefs," the student is heard saying in the video.
To this, the professor responded, "If you are uncomfortable in this class, you do have the right to leave. What we are doing is not illegal."
During the discussion, the young man alluded to an executive order signed earlier that year by President Donald Trump, which stated, "It is the policy of the United States to recognize two genders, male and female."
The controversy quickly escalated after Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison posted a thread with videos, images and recordings of the moment. Harrison called for the professor and Welsh to be fired for "DEI and LGBTQ indoctrination."
Meanwhile, the university's statement ignored the controversy. Chancellor Glenn Hegar maintained that the board agreed that a change was needed.
"President Welsh is a man of honor who has led Texas A&M with selfless dedication. ... We are grateful for his service and contributions. At the same time, we agree that now is the right moment to make a change and to position Texas A&M for continued excellence in the years ahead," Hegar said.
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