Trump brands Harvard as a ‘joke’ and advocates for funding cuts
US president Donald Trump labeled Harvard a “joke” on Wednesday, insisting it should forfeit its government research contracts after the esteemed institution rejected demands for external political oversight.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Trump’s administration has also threatened to revoke Harvard’s ability to admit foreign students if it does not comply, as reports suggest that officials are contemplating rescinding the university’s tax-exempt status.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated:
Harvard is no longer a respectable place of education, and should not appear on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges.
Harvard is a JOKE, promotes Hate and Stupidity, and should not receive Federal Funding any longer.
Trump expressed his outrage towards the historic institution for declining governmental oversight regarding its admissions, hiring practices, and political bias, and ordered the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard this week.
People walk on the Business School campus of Harvard university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photograph: Faith Ninivaggi/Reuters
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also rescinded $2.7 million worth of research grants to Harvard on Wednesday and has threatened the university’s capacity to enroll international students unless it provides records regarding visa-holders’ alleged “illegal and violent activities”.
A DHS statement noted, “If Harvard cannot confirm it is fully compliant with its reporting obligations, the university will lose its privilege of enrolling foreign students,” with secretary Kristi Noem accusing the institution of yielding to “antisemitism”.
In response, Harvard has firmly dismissed the pressure; its president, Alan Garber, stated that the university will not “negotiate over its independence or constitutional rights”.
Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story, but first, here are some of the latest developments:
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Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador to seek answers regarding the Trump administration’s unlawful deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García. He expressed hope to meet with Ábrego García to assess his situation. Previously, he indicated to the Guardian that the case had pushed the US into a constitutional crisis. Hollen reported being informed that the Trump administration was compensating the Salvadoran government to hold Ábrego García, which he stated was the reason for his detention.
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During a White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt retaliated, asserting that Democrats refuse to “respect the will of the American people,” while reiterating administration claims that García was associated with the MS-13 gang. “Nothing will alter the fact that Ábrego García will never become a father in Maryland. He will never reside in the United States of America again,” she emphasized.
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Numerous Democratic lawmakers and leading universities nationwide have rallied in support of Harvard, though the Trump administration has intensified its stance, threatening to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and demanding an apology from the institution.
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UK officials have tightened security protocols regarding sensitive trade documentation to prevent exposure to the US amid Trump’s tariff conflict, the Guardian has revealed. In an indication of the growing tension in the “special relationship,” British civil servants have revised document-handling policies, applying higher classifications to certain trade negotiation documents to shield them better from American scrutiny, sources revealed.
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Donald Trump has proposed monetary incentives for undocumented immigrants willing to leave voluntarily, suggesting that his “self-deportation program” could allow those deemed “good” to re-enter the country legally at a later date.
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The Department of Health and Human Services could face a significant $40 billion budget reduction – potentially impacting one-third of discretionary spending, according to an internal budget document.
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Jerome Powell, the chair of the US Federal Reserve, cautioned that Trump’s tariffs create a “challenging scenario” for the central bank and are likely to exacerbate inflation. His remarks came on the same day as US stock markets were already unsettled by a new trade restriction on the chip designer Nvidia.
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In his inaugural press conference, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the noticeable increase in autism diagnoses signifies an “epidemic” fueled by an “environmental toxin,” which would be eradicated by September. However, autism advocates and health professionals continually assert that the rise in diagnoses stems from improved awareness of the condition, evolving diagnostic criteria, and enhanced access to screenings.
Key events
Higher education leaders are concerned that these arrests and visa cancellations may deter international students from seeking higher education in the United States.
The ambiguous reasons for visa cancellations can instill a sense of fear among students, stated Sarah Spreitzer, vice-president of government relations at the American Council on Education, according to reports from the Associated Press (AP).
Spreitzer commented:
The public actions being taken by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security regarding some of these students, where they are removed from their residences or from public spaces, are usually reserved for security concerns when a student visa has been revoked.
The threat of prompt removals is a relatively new phenomenon.
Several international students who had their visas canceled recently have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, claiming that the government denied them their right to due process when it abruptly revoked their permission to remain in the US.
The federal government’s actions to terminate these students’ legal status have placed hundreds of scholars in danger of detention and deportation. These individuals are enrolled in institutions ranging from esteemed universities such as Harvard and Stanford to sizable public schools like the University of Maryland and Ohio State University, as well as smaller liberal arts colleges.
At least 901 students across 128 colleges and universities have experienced the revocation of their visas or termination of their legal status since mid-March, as per an Associated Press (AP) review of university statements and communications with school representatives.
In legal actions against the Department of Homeland Security, students have contended that the government lacked sufficient justification for canceling their visas or revoking their legal statuses, according to the AP.
The funds frozen to Harvard relate to government contracts with its premier research initiatives, primarily in medical sectors critical for developing new medications and treatments, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Trump and his White House team have openly rationalized their actions against universities as a response to what they claim is rampant antisemitism and a necessity to reverse diversity initiatives aimed at promoting minority representation.
The allegations of antisemitism stem from protests against Israel’s war in Gaza that erupted across US college campuses last year.
Columbia University in New York capitulated last month and agreed to oversight of its Middle Eastern studies department after facing threats of losing $400 million in federal funding.
In the case involving Harvard, the White House is seeking unprecedented government control over the internal operations of the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university – regarded as one of the most respected educational and research institutions globally.
AFP reports that in a letter dispatched to Harvard, the administration’s demands included:
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Halting admissions that consider students’ race or national origins.
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Preventing the admission of foreign students deemed “hostile to American values and institutions”.
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Ending staff hiring based on race, religion, gender, or national origin.
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Reducing student influence in campus governance.
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Conducting audits of students and staff for “viewpoint diversity”.
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Reforming entire programs with “egregious records of antisemitism or other bias”.
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Tightening restrictions on campus demonstrations.
