Trump admin escalates battle with Harvard

After cutting its federal funding and saying it wants to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, the Trump administration is threatening to revoke the school’s ability to host international students. Charles Krupa/ap

The Trump administration is ramping up its battle with Harvard University, threatening to revoke the school’s ability to host international students. This move comes amid a broader dispute over allegations of antisemitism on campus.

The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, has asked for records of Harvard’s international students allegedly involved in illegal or violent activities. In a recent letter sent to Harvard from DHS, Noem accused the school of fostering “a hostile learning environment for Jewish students” because of its failure to condemn antisemitism.

Alan Dershowitz, a constitutional and criminal law expert, said the administration has valid concerns.

“Let’s ask a single question. Would you apply the same standard if the victims were not Jews but instead were Blacks who instead were being harassed by mass Klu Klux Klaners?” Dershowitz said. “And unless you apply that same standard, don’t come to me and talk about freedom and speech and academic freedom, those are phony arguments.”

The White House recently froze $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard after the university refused to comply with the administration’s requests aimed at addressing rising antisemitism.

“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Harvard’s lawyers wrote in response to the administration’s demands. “Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.”

Additionally, the administration has reportedly asked the IRS to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.

“Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’ ” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”

Most universities in the U.S. do not have to pay federal income taxes because they are considered by the government as operating in the public interest.

Harvard has responded by listing potential consequences of losing federal support on its website, including impacts on cutting-edge medical research. Former Harvard President Larry Summers defended the university’s stance, saying, “This is part of a broad and sweeping effort to suppress institutions that challenge the presidential administration.”

Trump called the university a “joke” on Truth Social.

In a potential sign of seeking compromise, Harvard has hired lawyers with previous ties to the Trump administration to handle the ongoing dispute.

Editor’s note: Jackson Walker and Ray Lewis of The National Desk contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Kayla Gaskins at [e-mail] or at x.com/kaylagaskinsTV.