In a dramatic turn of events that underscores the growing tension between the federal government and academic institutions, U.S. President Donald Trump has taken aim at Harvard University, branding it an “Anti-Semitic, Far Left Institution.”
The Ivy League school is now embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with the Trump administration, which has frozen billions in federal funding over alleged tolerance of anti-Semitic activity on campus.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has escalated efforts to pressure universities, threatening their budgets, tax-exempt status, and even the enrollment of international students. Harvard, however, has pushed back.
Earlier this week, the university filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s funding freeze, calling the move politically motivated and an unlawful overreach into its academic independence.
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“The place is a Liberal mess,” Trump posted on Truth Social, also accusing Harvard of admitting international students who, in his view, “want to rip our Country apart.”
His latest comments came on the heels of a sweeping executive order that reshapes how federal funding is distributed to colleges and universities.
The order introduces new criteria based on what the administration calls “unlawful discrimination,” taking aim at diversity and inclusion programs that prioritize representation for racial and ethnic minorities.
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The executive order is part of a broader campaign that Trump’s team frames as a crackdown on anti-Semitism. It follows last year’s wave of student protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza—demonstrations that swept across campuses nationwide, including Harvard’s.
The university responded by disciplining dozens of students, placing 23 on probation and withholding degrees from 12, according to organizers.
Harvard President Alan Garber revealed that the university has faced “numerous investigations” by federal authorities since Trump’s return to office.
The administration’s actions tap into long-standing conservative critiques of higher education—that universities skew too far left, suppress conservative viewpoints, and disproportionately favor minority groups in the name of diversity.
Now, the White House is pushing for unprecedented federal oversight over Harvard’s internal operations, a move critics say threatens academic freedom and institutional autonomy. At stake is more than $2.2 billion in federal funding—a figure that underscores how high the stakes have become in this political showdown.
In announcing the executive order, Trump declared, “American students and taxpayers deserve better,” adding that his administration will overhaul the country’s accreditation system to ensure that universities prioritize affordability and academic quality.
As the lawsuit unfolds, the case could set a precedent for how far a presidential administration can go in influencing university policy. For now, Harvard remains defiant, defending its right to self-governance and academic integrity in the face of political pressure.
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