Trump Announces Plans to Strip Harvard's Tax-Exempt Status
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he plans to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, calling it “what they deserve!” The announcement follows a wave of pressure from the White House, which accuses Harvard of promoting “antisemitic, anti-American, Marxist and radical left ideologies.” The administration has already frozen over $2 billion in federal research funding and threatened the school’s ability to host international students unless it complies with a long list of demands.
Harvard has pushed back, joining lawsuits and public statements defending its independence and constitutional rights. Its president argued that revoking tax-exempt status would “endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission.” In response to the growing conflict, Harvard has made some adjustments, including renaming its diversity office and sharing some student data with the Department of Homeland Security, but it remains firm on resisting federal overreach.
The administration insists its efforts are focused on combating antisemitism on college campuses, especially after recent protests over the war in Gaza. While Harvard has acknowledged that antisemitism is a concern, it argues that changes should be led internally—not dictated by the federal government. Still, a White House official warned that “what we’re seeing is not enough,” signaling that more funding cuts could follow.
