The Trump administration has toughened its stance against Harvard University, raising fresh questions about the institution’s compliance with federal law and its eligibility for taxpayer-funded benefits. Slamming the university for failing to curb alleged anti-Semitism, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Harvard of violating Title VI and ignoring the Trump administration’s demands.
Call to follow federal law
“The President made it clear to Harvard: Follow federal law, no longer break Title VI,” Leavitt said. “The President is also begging a good question: More than $2 billion out the door to Harvard when they have a more than $50 billion endowment. Why are American taxpayers subsidising a university that has billions of dollars in the bank already?”
Accusations of anti-Semitism and inaction
The controversy centres around allegations that Harvard has tolerated anti-Semitism and failed to act against illegal campus behaviour. Leavitt accused the university of ignoring basic accountability while enjoying massive federal support.
“A lot of Americans are wondering why their tax dollars are going to these universities when they are not only indoctrinating our nation's students, but also allowing such egregious, illegal behaviour to occur,” she added.
Harvard should lose tax-exempt status: Trump
Former US President Donald Trump has also escalated criticism of the university, suggesting that Harvard’s tax-exempt status should be reconsidered. In a social media post, Trump said, “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’?… Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!”
Harvard refuses to give in
Harvard has so far refused to comply with the Trump administration’s demands. In a statement earlier this week, the university’s President, Alan Garber, said, “No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
