US President Donald Trump has threatened to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status over its handling of student protests on campus. In a social media post, Trump said he was considering ending Harvard’s tax-exempt status if the university continued to “push what I call ‘political, ideological, and terrorist-inspired sickness?'”.
Harvard President Alan Garber has rejected Trump’s demands, calling them “unprecedented assertions of power unmoored from the law” that violate constitutional free speech and the Civil Rights Act. The Trump administration had made demands for Harvard to tighten its protest rules, end diversity and inclusion programs, and ensure “viewpoint diversity” among students and faculty.
Columbia University also faced Trump’s wrath after it terminated federal grants and contracts worth $400 million over its handling of student protests. However, Columbia has agreed to negotiate with the Trump administration on tightening its protest rules.
Harvard and other universities have expressed concerns that Trump’s actions are an unconstitutional attack on academic freedoms. The university has worked to combat anti-Semitism and other prejudice while preserving its right to protest and academic freedom.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and universities over issues like free speech, diversity, and academic freedom.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/after-harvard-rejects-trump-demands-columbia-still-talks-over-federal-funding-2025-04-15