After Harvard Rejects US Demands, Trump Adds New Threat

Wednesday 16 April 2025 - 07:34

By: Zahouani Ilham

After Harvard Rejects US Demands, Trump Adds New Threat

NEW YORK, U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his dispute with Harvard University on Tuesday, warning that the school could lose its tax-exempt status. The threat came after Harvard dismissed what it called unlawful government demands to reform its academic programs or risk losing federal funding.

This latest move is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting universities such as Columbia, accusing them of failing to adequately respond to pro-Palestinian protests that erupted after the 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel’s subsequent response in Gaza.

Trump has labeled these campus protests as un-American and antisemitic. He has accused universities of promoting Marxist and radical-left ideologies, and vowed to cut off federal grants and contracts to institutions that do not comply with his directives.

In a social media post Tuesday, Trump said he was considering action against Harvard’s tax-exempt status, accusing the university of promoting what he described as political and terrorist-linked ideologies. He did not clarify how this would be implemented, and any such action would face significant legal hurdles under U.S. tax law, which exempts universities engaged in public education.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt demanded an apology from Harvard for antisemitic incidents allegedly targeting Jewish American students. She claimed that Harvard and other institutions were violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination by recipients of federal funding.

However, any funding cuts under Title VI would require formal investigations, hearings, and notification to Congress—steps that have not occurred with Harvard or Columbia.

Critics argue that equating the protests with antisemitism is a political strategy meant to undermine academic freedom. Columbia University, a private institution in New York, began negotiating new protest rules after the Trump administration announced it had revoked $400 million in federal research funding.

In response to federal demands—including a controversial audit of ideological diversity and the elimination of diversity and inclusion programs—Harvard President Alan Garber issued a strong rebuke. He called the demands unprecedented and a violation of both constitutional rights and the Civil Rights Act.

Hours later, a Trump administration task force announced a freeze on more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts to Harvard. The administration has not clarified which funds were cut, and Harvard has yet to comment.

Columbia professors have already filed lawsuits, arguing the grant terminations violate their constitutional rights. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to respond by May 1.

Columbia’s interim president, Claire Shipman, affirmed that while the university is open to continued dialogue with the Justice Department, it will not allow the government to dictate what is taught or researched on campus.

Meanwhile, several prestigious universities have expressed support for Harvard. Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber and Stanford leaders released statements defending academic freedom and opposing federal interference in university governance.

Separately, a coalition of universities—including Princeton and the University of Illinois—has sued the Department of Energy over funding cuts to research areas like nuclear technology and cybersecurity.

Trump’s administration continues to face legal opposition to its federal funding decisions and broader policies, including immigration and personnel dismissals.