Trump threatens to pull $3B Harvard funding over foreign students records tiff

President Donald Trump has accused Harvard University of being \”very slow\” to turn over information on foreign students. In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed frustration over Harvard’s delay in providing the Foreign Student Lists, which he believes are crucial in determining the presence of radicalized individuals among the student body. Trump criticized Harvard for the perceived sluggishness in presenting these documents, implying that the university may have ulterior motives for the delay.

Furthermore, Trump suggested that Harvard has sought out a favorable judge to handle the case, insinuating that the university is manipulating the legal system in its favor. Despite his concerns, Trump remains confident that the government will ultimately prevail in the matter.

In a separate post, Trump hinted at the possibility of reallocating three billion dollars of grant money from Harvard to trade schools across the country. He accused Harvard of being antisemitic and proposed that investing in trade schools would be a more beneficial use of the funds.

The dispute between Trump and Harvard escalated when the Department of Homeland Security moved to revoke the university’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. The government cited Harvard’s alleged failure to provide requested information and create a hostile campus environment as justification for the decision.

However, Judge Allison D. Burroughs granted Harvard a temporary restraining order, halting the revocation of its certification. The judge’s decision temporarily safeguards Harvard’s ability to enroll international students with F-1 or J-1 visas.

The Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, accused Harvard of noncompliance with reporting requirements and withholding essential information regarding foreign students. Noem emphasized the importance of enforcing the law and combating anti-Americanism and antisemitism on college campuses.

Harvard responded to the government’s actions by filing a lawsuit, arguing that the revocation of its certification violated constitutional rights and administrative regulations. The university asserted that the government’s actions were retaliatory in nature and infringed upon its academic freedom.

The legal battle between Harvard and the government is ongoing, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Boston federal court. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students and the broader debate surrounding campus safety and free speech.

In conclusion, the conflict between President Trump and Harvard University underscores the complex issues surrounding national security, academic freedom, and government oversight in higher education. As the legal proceedings continue, both sides remain steadfast in their positions, setting the stage for a potentially precedent-setting decision.