President Donald Trump’s offensive against Harvard University has broadened, now encompassing allegations of anti-Semitism following earlier disputes over international student enrollment. The administration is threatening to cut all federal funding after concluding an investigation found civil rights of Jewish students were violated, citing Harvard’s “willful participation in anti-Semitic harassment.”
This new development adds to the existing financial pressures on Harvard, which had already lost over $2.6 billion in federal funding due to its refusal to accept President Trump’s demands for sweeping changes in campus hiring, admissions, and governance. The current threat highlights a consistent pattern of pressure from the administration.
The issue of international students was a previous flashpoint. President Trump had criticized Harvard’s high percentage of foreign students, suggesting a cap of around 15% instead of its reported 31%. He argued that this influx prevented American students from gaining admission to top-tier institutions, reflecting a “America First” approach to education.
The dispute previously intensified when the administration revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, effectively banning the university from enrolling international students and jeopardizing the status of existing ones. Harvard responded by suing the Trump administration, labeling the ban as unconstitutional retaliation. More recently, however, President Trump announced on Truth Social that talks were underway with Harvard officials to resolve the long-standing dispute, expressing optimism for a “mindbogglingly’ HISTORIC” settlement.