Trump Calls Harvard a ‘Joke’, Threatens to Cut Funds

U.S. President Donald Trump is publicly blasting Harvard University, calling it a “joke” and accusing it of spreading “hate and stupidity.” The president’s remarks came after Harvard rejected a list of government demands that critics say would compromise academic freedom.

In response, the Trump administration has frozen over $2 billion in federal grants and contracts previously awarded to Harvard. On top of that, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is reportedly preparing to strip the university of its tax-exempt status.

What triggered the clash

The tension began last week when the Trump administration sent a letter to Harvard outlining a set of requirements the university must meet to continue receiving federal support. These included:

• Shutting down all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs

• Turning over student admission and conduct data

• Reporting foreign students who break rules to federal authorities

• Hiring an independent auditor to ensure political diversity on campus

The government claims these steps are part of a broader review into antisemitism and bias following student protests over the war in Gaza.

Harvard says no

Harvard President Alan Garber pushed back strongly. In his reply, he said the government’s demands were unconstitutional and threatened the university’s independence.

“No government – regardless of political party – should control what a private university teaches, who it hires, or what it researches,” Garber wrote.

He accused the administration of trying to force political compliance through funding threats, calling the move an attack on free speech and academic integrity.

Other top universities back Harvard

Harvard isn’t standing alone. Columbia, Stanford, Princeton, and other major institutions quickly issued statements supporting Harvard’s stance and rejecting federal interference.

Columbia, which had previously agreed to some federal terms after losing $400 million in research funding, clarified it wouldn’t accept any deal that lets the government dictate curriculum or staffing.

Even former President Barack Obama weighed in, praising Harvard’s refusal to “surrender to unlawful and heavy-handed political pressure.”

Trump doubles down on threats

Despite the backlash, President Trump is not backing down. On Wednesday morning, he posted again on Truth Social, saying:

“Harvard is a JOKE, teaches Hate and Stupidity, and should no longer receive Federal Funds.”

The White House also confirmed Trump wants Harvard to publicly apologize.

What this means for higher education

The situation marks a serious standoff between the federal government and some of the most influential universities in the country. If the Trump administration follows through with its threats, it could reshape how public funding is distributed to private institutions—and set a controversial precedent for political control over academia.

For now, the ball is in Harvard’s court—but it's clear this battle is far from over.

This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here