President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status after the school resisted what it described as political interference from his administration. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Harvard of promoting "ideological and terrorist-inspired sickness," arguing it should be taxed like a political entity if it fails to act in the public interest.
The clash escalated after the administration slashed $2 billion in federal grants, citing Harvard’s refusal to comply with demands aimed at combating antisemitism. Many educators argue that the demands are a pretext to restrict academic freedom. Harvard maintains its stance against government overreach, asserting its commitment to institutional independence.
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and… https://t.co/gAu9UUqgjF
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 15, 2025
Former President Barack Obama weighed in, commending Harvard for upholding academic integrity and urging other universities to resist political pressure. The conflict highlights growing tensions between higher education and government efforts to control campus discourse.
