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Trump Renews Attacks on Harvard Over Student Data Dispute

In a renewed attack on academic freedom, former President Donald Trump threatens to withdraw $3 billion in federal grants from Harvard University, proposing to divert funds to vocational schools following accusations of antisemitism and political dissent.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his campaign against Harvard University on May 26, 2025, threatening to eliminate $3 billion in federal grant funding to the prestigious institution.

Labeling Harvard as “very antisemitic,” Trump announced plans to redirect these funds to vocational schools across the country, framing it as a “major and necessary investment” for the United States. This move follows months of government actions freezing nearly $2.5 billion in federal grants to Harvard, alongside threats to revoke tax exemptions and restrict visas for foreign students.

Government Retaliation Against Academic Independence

Harvard’s administration, led by President Alan Garber, has responded with multiple lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s punitive measures. Garber condemned the tuition ban and funding cuts as “retaliatory government actions” aimed at undermining Harvard’s academic independence and resisting federal overreach into curriculum, faculty, and student governance. These legal battles underscore a broader conflict over academic freedom, with Harvard standing firm against demands that would compromise its institutional autonomy.

Donald Trump Truth Social 05.26.25 08:27 AM EST

I am considering taking Three Billion Dollars of Grant Money away from a very antisemitic Harvard, and giving it to TRADE SCHOOLS all across our land. What a great investment that would be for the USA, and so badly needed!!!

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 26, 2025

The Trump administration’s crackdown extends beyond funding cuts. It includes threats to suspend visas for foreign students applying to Harvard and mandates that those already enrolled either transfer to other institutions or face deportation.

This policy threatens to disrupt the educational trajectories of thousands of international students and weaken Harvard’s research capacity. Federal grants, crucial for cutting-edge research in fields such as health and technology, have already been frozen, jeopardizing scientific progress and innovation.

From a left-wing perspective, Trump’s assault on Harvard represents a broader attack on progressive values, intellectual freedom, and social justice. The targeting of a university that promotes diversity, critical inquiry, and international collaboration is seen as part of a reactionary agenda seeking to dismantle institutions that challenge authoritarian and nationalist ideologies.

What a fucking buffoon.

Trump marks Memorial Day after saying he's considering taking grant money away from Harvardhttps://t.co/x20gc15USL

— Annie van Leur (@AnnevanLeur) May 26, 2025

Redirecting funds to vocational schools, while superficially framed as an investment in practical skills, risks deepening social inequalities by defunding centers of higher learning that foster critical thought and social mobility. Leftist voices warn that such measures undermine the very foundations of democratic education and scientific advancement in the United States.

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